Squire Patton Boggs has engaged two high-profile public policy professionals as Senior Advisors, further expanding its highly successful Public Policy International Practice in Brussels. Georg Serentschy and Michael Bartholomew will work with the Brussels team in coordination with the Europe-wide Communications Practice Group, with a particular emphasis on telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) regulation.
Squire Patton Boggs has one of the most well-recognized international public policy practices, founded in 1962 as a counsel to sovereign states entering the United Nations. Since that time, it has continued to expand and has been the preeminent legal and political advisor to more than 100 sovereign governments and international businesses. The team includes former World Trade Organization officials, European Commission officials, Member State ambassadors and national politicians.
Georg Serentschy is former CEO (Telecommunication and Postal) of the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunication. While in this role, he served as Chairman of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication (BEREC) in 2012 and Vice-Chairman in both 2011 and 2013 and Head of the Austrian Competence Center Internet Society (KIG). Previously Georg served as a Director at Arthur D. Little and CEO of the Austrian Aerospace Company.
“I am delighted to be working with the Squire Patton Boggs team across Europe and globally to utilise my previous experience in the TMT sectors to support clients through the ever-changing EU policy environment. This is particularly relevant given many of the proposals put forward in Europe including the Digital Single Market, Telecoms Single Market and General Data Protection Regulation,” Georg said.
Michael Bartholomew currently advises global internet companies on public policy issues and the consequences of disruptive technologies. Previously he served for 11 years as Director General of the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO), the trade association representing Europe’s 50 largest telecommunications operators in 35 countries. Michael was also Director for European Affairs for the Motion Picture Association, which represents the interests of Hollywood studios. Michael was a founding board member of the Center for Social Responsibility in the Digital Age, a Brussels-based non-partisan think tank which has advised the EU Commission on safer internet issues for children. He has also worked for 25 years as a journalist for international radios, wire services and newspapers and is a frequent conference speaker and moderator.
“Given Squire Patton Boggs’ global credentials in public policy, this is an exciting time for the Brussels office,” Michael noted. “As EU institutions continue to strengthen and flex their regulatory muscles, clients are looking to firms for full-service legislative, legal, regulatory and public policy expertise. As such, the European Public Policy Practice will be increasingly important. I look forward to contributing to its further growth and success.”
Georg and Michael work closely with Ann LaFrance, EMEA Communications Law Coordinating Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Group.
“From data protection and cybersecurity to the Digital Single Market and the European Cloud, there is an unending number of legislative and regulatory initiatives impacting the ICT sector across Europe. The extension of our global Public Policy team to include access to these two distinguished Senior Advisors will strengthen our capabilities in Brussels and in key EU Member States,” Ann stated.
“Our Brussels office has never been busier,” said Office Managing Partner Brian Hartnett. “As the European Parliament, Commission and Council continue to consider a wide range of regulatory and legislative changes, we are pleased to be working with Georg and Michael to support our clients as they navigate a variety of issues, sectors and actors.”