Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice
GianCarlo Canaparo serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice. There, he oversees the Office's regulatory work and is the Department's liaison to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He also assists the White House in the process of selecting nominees for federal judgeships and advises Department leadership on policy and legal matters.
Before joining the Department, Canaparo was a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies where he researched constitutional law, administrative law, and civil rights.
Canaparo’s scholarship has appeared in various law reviews including the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, the Notre Dame Law Review, the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy, the Texas Review of Law and Politics, and the Administrative Law Review. His research has been cited by Justice Neil Gorsuch and featured in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. His analysis has appeared in Law & Liberty, Civitas, Fox News, The National Review, Law 360, FedSoc Blog, and other outlets.
Canaparo co-hosted The Heritage Foundation’s SCOTUS 101 podcast, which follows the Supreme Court’s arguments and opinions and features interviews with judges, advocates, and scholars.
After graduating Georgetown law, Canaparo spent three years at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and two years as a federal law clerk. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Davis.
Canaparo is a classical pianist and organist.
Senior Vice President, Spectrum Strategy & Technology Policy, Qualcomm
Dean Brenner is Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Qualcomm Incorporated. He directs Qualcomm’s global spectrum acquisitions and strategy and is responsible for global technology policy. He represents Qualcomm before the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies of the United States and Canadian governments responsible for spectrum and telecommunications policy and interacts with spectrum regulators around the world. He also leads Qualcomm’s policy initiatives relating to mobile healthcare.
Mr. Brenner led Qualcomm’s bidding team in recent spectrum auctions in India (the 2.3 GHz band), the United States (the 700 MHz band), and the United Kingdom (the L Band). In addition, he was responsible for obtaining the regulatory approvals for Qualcomm’s sale of 700 MHz spectrum to AT&T in 2011. In 2006, he obtained the regulatory approvals to launch FLO TV, a mobile TV service. He has spoken at conferences on spectrum policy in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Belgium, Great Britain, and elsewhere around the world. He joined Qualcomm in November 2003.
Mr. Brenner received his A.B. degree, magna cum laude with distinction in public policy studies, from Duke in 1982. He won a prize for the best paper on communications policy, and he was a recipient for four years of a CBS Scholarship. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University in 1985. He is admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the D.C., Third, and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Mr. Brenner is a member of the Federal Advisory Board for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, & Timing, which advises the Executive Branch on policy matters impacting the Global Positioning System. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of 4G Americas, the Board for Jewish Life at Duke University, and the Board of Trustees of the Field School. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife Robin Shaffert and their two sons, Michael and Steven.
Director (Group Manager), Technology and Innovation Policy, Toyota North America
Hilary Cain is Director of Technology and Innovation Policy for Toyota. In this position, she handles policy issues relating to connected and automated vehicle technology, including artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, and telecommunications.
Prior to joining Toyota, Cain was on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She served as Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation with jurisdiction over matters relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation. Previously, as a Counsel to the Committee, she handled parliamentary, procedural, and jurisdictional matters and participated in the development and implementation of legislative strategy. Before joining the Committee staff, Cain served as Legislative Director and Ways and Means Counsel for individual Members of Congress.
She holds a J.D. and a M.A. in Public Affairs from the University of Texas, and a B.A. in Political Science with honors from the University of Washington.
Vice President & Associate General Counsel, NCTA- The Internet & Television Association
Danielle J. Piñeres is a Vice President & Associate General Counsel at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, where she focuses on wireless spectrum policy issues. Prior to her employment at NCTA, Ms. Piñeres worked as an associate with the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP in Washington, D.C., where she practiced in the areas of telecommunications (including spectrum regulation), international trade and foreign investment, and appellate litigation. Before joining HWG, Ms. Piñeres clerked for the Honorable Emily C. Hewitt at the United States Court of Federal Claims. Ms. Piñeres received her J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Christopher J. Walker is a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Michigan law faculty in 2022, he spent a decade teaching at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He previously clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court, worked on the Civil Appellate Staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee staff for the Gorsuch Supreme Court confirmation. Professor Walker’s research focuses on administrative law, regulation, and law and policy at the agency level. Outside the law school, he chaired the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice in 2020-21 and served as one of forty Public Members of the Administrative Conference of the United States from 2016-2022, and he continues to serve in both organizations in various capacities. He also works of counsel at the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center. In 2022, he received the Federalist Society’s Joseph Story Award.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Austin E. Owen Research Scholar & Professor of Law, The University of Richmond School of Law
Dean Kristen Jakobsen Osenga teaches and writes in the areas of patent law, antitrust, and legislation and regulation. Some of her recent scholarship focuses on standard development organizations, patent eligible subject matter, patent licensing firms, litigation and remedies for patent infringement, and patent law reform. She has written numerous law review articles on these and other topics, as well as book chapters and op eds on various aspects of patent law. Additionally, she has spoken on these issues at many academic conferences and bar events. Dean Osenga is Chief Policy Counselor for the Inventors Defense Alliance, as well as an active member of the Federal Circuit Bar Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.
Dean Osenga received a B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa, an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. After law school, she practiced at the law firm of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett, & Dunner LLP, (now Finnegan) where she did patent prosecution and litigation. She then clerked for the Judge Richard Linn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. After clerking, she entered academia, teaching first at Chicago-Kent College of Law and then at the University of Richmond, where she has been since 2006. She has also been a Visiting Professor at Emory University School of Law and at William & Mary School of Law.
General Counsel and Vice-President of Litigation, Washington Legal Foundation
Cory Andrews is General Counsel and Vice-President of Litigation for the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF). As counsel of record for WLF and other clients, he has authored more than 100 briefs, at petition and merits stages, in the U.S. Supreme Court. He also frequently litigates in state and federal appellate courts. Before joining WLF, Cory practiced trial and appellate law for White & Case LLP, where he litigated in state and federal courts on behalf of clients in the telecommunications, hospitality, and banking industries. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Florida, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif. Upon graduation, Cory served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven D. Merryday of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
Marcia Madsen was Chair of the Government Contracts practice and co-chair of the National Security Practice at Mayer Brown. She represented contractors in regulatory, policy, transactional, litigation, and investigative matters involving virtually every federal agency. Her clients included defense contractors, information technology and systems integrators, telecommunications companies, engineering firms, insurers, and manufacturing companies. Ms. Madsen's practice included defense of False Claims Act matters, internal investigations, audits, bid protests, claims and disputes before administrative forums and in the federal courts. She was a former Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law and currently co-chairs the Section’s Procurement Fraud Committee. She also is a member of the Federalist Society Administrative Law and Regulation Executive Committee. In addition, Marcia was a member of the Court of Federal Claims Advisory Council - Emeritus, and a recipient of the Court's Golden Eagle award. She was a Past President of the Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association. She was appointed by the Executive Office of the President to chair the Section 1423 Panel which recommended revision of the acquisition laws. She spoke and wrote frequently on government contracts and litigation topics.
Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 1980
American University - Washington College of Law, J.D., 1976
University of Utah, B.A., 1972
Associate, Mayer Brown
Peter Schmidt is an associate in Mayer Brown's Washington DC office and a member of the Intellectual Property practice. He focuses on the finance, media, and technology industries, advising and representing clients in patent, copyright, and trade secret matters. Peter’s work focuses on cases involving complex technical and financial issues, where he draws on his previous experience both as a software engineer and as a financial consultant for McKinsey and Company. These cases have covered both hardware and software issues in a range of sectors.
Peter has represented clients in a broad range of types and stages of litigation, and has extensive experience in case assessment; complaints and answers; discovery and fact gathering; non-infringement, infringement, invalidity, and validity contentions; claim construction; expert reports; motion practice (including summary judgment and admissibility of evidence); trial; and appeals. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and first in his class from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering; he also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Counsel, Mayer Brown
Luke Levasseur has been representing clients in complex federal litigation for more than 20 years and currently focuses his practice on government contract matters. He represents clients in large contract disputes and bid protests before the US Court of Federal Claims and the Government Accountability Office. He has represented clients in federal and state False Claims Act cases, presenting arguments in federal court and conducting internal investigations for clients. Luke also has experience handling a variety of other federal court litigation for clients, involving such matters as antitrust claims, trademark disputes, and alleged fraud.
Prior to re-joining Mayer Brown in 2006, Luke represented the federal government as an attorney with the Civil Division of the US Department of Justice from 1997-2006. He served as lead counsel for, or had a significant role during the trial and appeal of, several large cases that were part of the Winstar-related litigation, which involved billions of dollars in claims against the government and were based on legislative and regulatory changes in the financial services industry. In those cases, he was responsible for developing and presenting expert opinion testimony from the government’s witnesses, including a Nobel-prize winning economist, and for cross-examining other parties’ experts. Throughout his career, Luke has focused on expert witness issues in complex litigation.
When he was with the Department of Justice, Luke also represented the government in numerous appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He was awarded the John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement and a Special Commendation Award for exceptional contributions to the defense of the Winstar cases. Luke continues to be an active part of the Court of Federal Claims bar and served as the President of that Court's Bar Association during 2012.
Partner, Mayer Brown
David Dowd is an experienced litigator at Mayer Brown whose practice has a strong emphasis in government contracting issues and controversies. He advises such clients as those involved in health care, information technology, large military systems, engineering services, and other industries regarding federal procurements and related issues. His counsel in this area includes commercial items, conflicts of interest, cost allowability issues, defective pricing, contract and subcontract negotiations, contract financing, assignments and novations, leasing, prime/sub disputes, preparation of claims, and procurement fraud.
David also handles procurement controversies, as he litigates bid protests and disputes before the Government Accountability Office and the Court of Federal Claims, represents contractors in litigation and arbitrations involving government contracts, and tries federal court litigation focused on contract disputes and alleged fraud.
Health care and insurance companies rely on David for advice regarding federal health care and insurance programs, including FEHBA, Medicare, TRICARE, and FEGLI. He represents these industry clients in bid protest and claim litigation regarding federal health care and insurance programs. In related matters, David counsels biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies on biodefense purchasing opportunities and applications, including research and development.
David has more than 20 years of practice experience, having joined Mayer Brown’s Washington, DC office in 2001 after practicing with two other national law firms.
Special Assistant and Counsel to Commissioner Peter Kirsanow of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Carissa Mulder is a 2009 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and a member of the Virginia Bar. She is a special assistant and counsel to Commissioner Peter Kirsanow of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Senior Vice President, Spectrum Strategy & Technology Policy, Qualcomm
Dean Brenner is Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Qualcomm Incorporated. He directs Qualcomm’s global spectrum acquisitions and strategy and is responsible for global technology policy. He represents Qualcomm before the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies of the United States and Canadian governments responsible for spectrum and telecommunications policy and interacts with spectrum regulators around the world. He also leads Qualcomm’s policy initiatives relating to mobile healthcare.
Mr. Brenner led Qualcomm’s bidding team in recent spectrum auctions in India (the 2.3 GHz band), the United States (the 700 MHz band), and the United Kingdom (the L Band). In addition, he was responsible for obtaining the regulatory approvals for Qualcomm’s sale of 700 MHz spectrum to AT&T in 2011. In 2006, he obtained the regulatory approvals to launch FLO TV, a mobile TV service. He has spoken at conferences on spectrum policy in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Belgium, Great Britain, and elsewhere around the world. He joined Qualcomm in November 2003.
Mr. Brenner received his A.B. degree, magna cum laude with distinction in public policy studies, from Duke in 1982. He won a prize for the best paper on communications policy, and he was a recipient for four years of a CBS Scholarship. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University in 1985. He is admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the D.C., Third, and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Mr. Brenner is a member of the Federal Advisory Board for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, & Timing, which advises the Executive Branch on policy matters impacting the Global Positioning System. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of 4G Americas, the Board for Jewish Life at Duke University, and the Board of Trustees of the Field School. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife Robin Shaffert and their two sons, Michael and Steven.
Director (Group Manager), Technology and Innovation Policy, Toyota North America
Hilary Cain is Director of Technology and Innovation Policy for Toyota. In this position, she handles policy issues relating to connected and automated vehicle technology, including artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, and telecommunications.
Prior to joining Toyota, Cain was on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She served as Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation with jurisdiction over matters relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation. Previously, as a Counsel to the Committee, she handled parliamentary, procedural, and jurisdictional matters and participated in the development and implementation of legislative strategy. Before joining the Committee staff, Cain served as Legislative Director and Ways and Means Counsel for individual Members of Congress.
She holds a J.D. and a M.A. in Public Affairs from the University of Texas, and a B.A. in Political Science with honors from the University of Washington.
Vice President & Associate General Counsel, NCTA- The Internet & Television Association
Danielle J. Piñeres is a Vice President & Associate General Counsel at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, where she focuses on wireless spectrum policy issues. Prior to her employment at NCTA, Ms. Piñeres worked as an associate with the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP in Washington, D.C., where she practiced in the areas of telecommunications (including spectrum regulation), international trade and foreign investment, and appellate litigation. Before joining HWG, Ms. Piñeres clerked for the Honorable Emily C. Hewitt at the United States Court of Federal Claims. Ms. Piñeres received her J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Christopher J. Walker is a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Michigan law faculty in 2022, he spent a decade teaching at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He previously clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court, worked on the Civil Appellate Staff at the U.S. Department of Justice, and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee staff for the Gorsuch Supreme Court confirmation. Professor Walker’s research focuses on administrative law, regulation, and law and policy at the agency level. Outside the law school, he chaired the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice in 2020-21 and served as one of forty Public Members of the Administrative Conference of the United States from 2016-2022, and he continues to serve in both organizations in various capacities. He also works of counsel at the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center. In 2022, he received the Federalist Society’s Joseph Story Award.
General Counsel and Vice-President of Litigation, Washington Legal Foundation
Cory Andrews is General Counsel and Vice-President of Litigation for the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF). As counsel of record for WLF and other clients, he has authored more than 100 briefs, at petition and merits stages, in the U.S. Supreme Court. He also frequently litigates in state and federal appellate courts. Before joining WLF, Cory practiced trial and appellate law for White & Case LLP, where he litigated in state and federal courts on behalf of clients in the telecommunications, hospitality, and banking industries. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Florida, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif. Upon graduation, Cory served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven D. Merryday of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
State Court Docket Watch: Columbus Bar Assn. v. Bahan
GianCarlo Canaparo
Does the First Amendment protect a lawyer from discipline by the bar after she gets...
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Why the DOJ Has a Strong Case Against Google
That's Debatable is a new blog initiative bringing together legal and policy experts with differing...
Deep Dive Episode 75 – Spectrum Wars
Dean Brenner, Hilary Cain, Danielle Piñeres, Christopher J. Walker
With the advent of mobile devices, ubiquitous home laptop, tablet and iPad computers, content streaming...
Spectrum Wars
TeleforumWhat Happened to the Public’s Interest in Patent Law?
Kristen Osenga
Note from the Editor: This article discusses the role of the concept of the public...
Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: Apple, Inc. v. Pepper
Cory L. Andrews
On Monday, November 26, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Apple, Inc. v. Pepper. At issue is...
Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: Apple, Inc. v. Pepper
Corporations, Securities & Antitrust Practice Group
TeleforumWhy DoD Should Adopt a Multi-Cloud IT Strategy
Marcia G. Madsen, Peter O. Schmidt, Luke P. Levasseur, David F. Dowd
Note from the Editor: This article describes how companies approach cloud based services, and it...
The Kudzu of Civil Rights Law: Disparate Impact Spreads Into Educational “Resource Comparability”
Carissa Mulder
Note from the Editor: This article is about a Dear Colleague letter from the Department...