Erwin G. Krasnow has a national reputation as a communications lawyer with a special talent for mediating disputes. A former General Counsel of the National Association of Broadcasters, he has been described by the Legal Times as a “dean of the Washington communications bar,” by American Film magazine as a “superlawyer of communications,” and by the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association as “the guru of communications law.”
Erwin has received high marks from his clients and colleagues for his conflict resolution skills, especially his ability to facilitate the resolution of contentious issues during his seven year tenure as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the National Association of Broadcasters. He has taken a leadership role in forming several broad-based coalitions to lobby the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. Erwin currently serves as Washington counsel to the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association. His professional affiliations have included:
- Chair, Communications & Media Law Group, Garvey Schubert Barer, Washington, D.C., January 2004 to present.
- Partner, Shook Hardy & Bacon, Washington, D.C., January 2002 to December 2003.
- Partner, Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, Chartered, Washington, D.C., 1984 to 2001.
- Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Association of Broadcasters, Washington, D.C., 1976, to 1984.
- Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, Washington, D.C., 1964 to 1976.
- Administrative Assistant to Congressman Torbert H. Macdonald, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., 1962 to 1964.
Erwin is author or coauthor of over 20 books and 250 articles on law and regulation. He has also taught on legal and communications subjects at numerous graduate and law schools, including those at Georgetown, George Washington, Temple, American and Ohio State universities and the Catholic University of America.
EDUCATION
1958 B.A., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
1961 J.D., Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1965 LL.M., Georgetown Graduate Law School, Washington, D.C.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (current and former)
Admitted to practice: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Fourth, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal Bar Association: Capitol Hill Chapter, President (1963-1964) and Communications Law Committee, Deputy Co-Chairman (1967-1969) and Co-Chairman (1970-1971).
Federal Communications Bar Association: Executive Committee (1976-79; 1984-1985), Treasurer (1984-1985) and various committee chairmanships.
American Bar Association: Vice Chairman, Agency Adjudication Committee (1974-1977), and Vice Chairman (1976-1980) and Chairman (1980-1981), Communications Law Committee, Administrative Law Section.
Federal Communications Bar Journal, Board of Editors (1973-1975).
Federal Communications Law Journal, Editorial Advisory Board, 1987-1991).
Board of Trustees and Chairman of Fundraising Committee, Federal Communications Bar Foundation (1994-1997).
SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS
Recipient, Roscoe Barrow Award, COMM/ENT Law Journal, Hastings College of the Law, for “outstanding achievement in the field of communications” (April 1984).
Recipient, Distinguished Education Service Award, Broadcast Education Association, for making a “significant and lasting contribution to the American system of broadcasting” (April 1987).
Recipient, Donald H. McGannon Award, Office of Communications, United Church of Christ, for “special contributions in advancing the role of women and people of color in the media” (September 1999).
Recipient, Jack Zwaska Lifetime Achievement Award, Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association, “in recognition of a past or current BCFM member whose efforts have contributed to the growth of our association and the industries we serve” (May 2004).
