Biography
Kathleen A. Kirby is a Partner with Wiley Rein LLP Washington, DC and Co-Chair of the firm’s Telecom, Media & Technology group. Ms. Kirby’s practice involves advising some of the country’s largest media groups on regulatory and policy matters, representing radio and television stations in connection with the full realm of FCC compliance, and counseling clients on the sale and acquisition of broadcast properties. In addition, Ms. Kirby assists television, radio, and new media clients with drafting and negotiating a variety of content and licensing agreements, including network affiliation and syndicated programming deals. She has additional expertise in newsgathering, content regulation, and First Amendment issues. Regularly rated by Chambers USA as one of Washington, DC’s “Leading Lawyers” in her field, Ms. Kirby is commended for “her work on First Amendment and FCC matters” and her “responsiveness and proactive approach.” She is praised for her “superior subject expertise, commitment to her clients, and great connections within the industry.”
Ms. Kirby has long served as counsel to the Radio Television Digital News Association News Association (“RTDNA”), advising electronic journalists on a variety of legal and legislative matters, including freedom of information, privacy, libel, content regulation, copyright and other First Amendment issues. She is an inductee of the National Freedom of Information Hall of Fame and recipient of RTDNA’s prestigious First Amendment Leadership Award.
Before attending law school, Ms. Kirby worked for almost a decade as a radio broadcaster in New York and Connecticut, where she gained extensive experience first as a reporter and news anchor, then in management positions in operations, sales, and marketing.
Ms. Kirby obtained her J.D. degree as a Dean’s Scholar from the Catholic University of America, where she received served as Executive Editor of the Catholic University Law Review. Ms. Kirby simultaneously completed coursework in Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing from the University of Virginia, where she was selected for Lawn Residence on the basis of leadership and academic merit and was instrumental in founding one of the country’s first student-owned and operated commercial radio stations. She continues to advise WUVA-FM as a member of the station’s alumni interest group.
Ms. Kirby serves on the Media Institute’s First Amendment Advisory Council. She is an active member of both the Federal Communications Bar Association and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Communications Law (ABA), and has held leadership positions within both throughout her career.