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Verrill Partner Geoffrey Why Named One of Boston’s Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders 2023

March 9, 2023 Press Releases

BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill Partner Geoffrey Why was recently named one of Boston’s Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders by Get Konnected!. Why was one of only five attorneys in this year’s legal section.

Get Konnected! is Boston's premier inclusive business networking event series that brings together professionals, business and civic leaders and entrepreneurs from all cultures across industries and sectors. The Get Konnected! list seeks to highlight the important roles played by Asian Americans in the Greater Boston area. The list features 90 people divided into the following categories – 50 AAPI Leaders in academia, arts and culture, healthcare and life sciences, media, politics and the public sector, legal, and philanthropy, social services and social impact; 25 legends, leaders, and pioneers; and 15 emerging communities.

Why focuses his practice in the telecommunications industry and has substantial experience in prominent policy and legislative issues affecting the cable broadband, wireline, and wireless industries. Prior to entering private practice, he served as the Commissioner and General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable. Prior to that he served as Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division, where he was co-chair of the Attorney General's Diversity Committee. He is also a current board chair of the Asian Community Development Corporation and Past Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Asian-American Commission.

Firm Highlights

Matter

Patent Litigation: Telecommunications

Defended national telecommunications provider in patent dispute involving patents related to standard-essential DSL technology. Developed unenforceability defense as well as defense based on patent troll’s failure to offer fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory royalty rate...

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

Matter

Patent Litigation: VoIP

Defended three telecommunications networking companies in E.D. Tex. against accusation of infringement of patents relating to VoIP technology; lead responsibility for witness who testified at trial about key prior art; case settled the next...

Blog

Georgetown Broadband LLC Secures Utility Pole Attachment Authorization for Community Broadband Project

On February 17, 2023, Georgetown Broadband LLC (GBLLC) became the latest community broadband entity to receive pole attachment authorization from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deploy a fiber broadband network. GBLLC began...

Blog

Carolyn Gilbert Nominated to Maine PUC

On March 28, Governor Janet Mills nominated Carolyn “Carrie” Gilbert to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For the past 15 years, Gilbert has worked at Daymark Energy Advisors where...

Matter

Patent Litigation: Telecommunications

Defended three major telecommunications companies against patent claims relating to VoIP technology in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; took lead in preparing pretrial filings and assisted with trial witness preparation...

Matter

Patent Litigation: Telecommunications

Defended large telecommunication company in patent litigation in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas brought by a competitor over eight patents relating to encryption, unified communications, messaging, and audio and video...

Matter

Patent Litigation: Telecommunications

Defended regional telecommunications provider against non-practicing entity with patents related to modem design and operation. Developed exhaustion argument based on prior licensing activity. Also successfully opposed non-practicing entity’s motion to consolidate cases under Multi-District...

Publication/Podcast

New Rules for Apprentices on Energy Projects Come with Uncertainty for Contractors and Developers

On January 1, 2021, a new law went into effect setting benchmarks for use of apprentices on energy generation facility construction projects. Enacted in 2019, the law was part of “An Act to Establish...

Matter

Trade Secret & Unfair Competition Litigation: Telecommunications

Represented large international manufacturer and seller of telecommunications equipment to all major wireless providers against a supplier in a breach of contract, theft of trade secrets and unfair competition action brought in the Commercial...

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