Ari Fitzgerald’s impact on the wireless industry began with his work at the FCC advocating for underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad. He then became a trusted voice in strategic, legal, and policy advice on a wide range of communications and spectrum policy issues during his tenure at the FCC and at the law firm of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader.

Before entering law school, Ari worked as a financial analyst in the corporate finance department of the global investment bank First Boston Corporation.  After graduating from Yale Law School in 1990, he began his legal career as a clerk to the Honorable H. Lee Sarokin, U.S. district judge, and following his judicial clerkship, served as legal counsel to former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.

Ari continued his career at the FCC, using his industry knowledge and expertise, as a legal adviser to FCC Chairman Bill Kennard and working as Deputy Chief of the FCC’s International Bureau. While at the FCC, Ari helped to oversee the spectrum auctions, at that time still in their infancy. He played a major role in the FCC’s efforts to reach out to underserved communities, helping to close the digital divide in both the U.S. and around the world. Ari also worked as a legal adviser in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, where he advised the White House, executive branch agencies, and the U.S. attorney general on constitutional and federal statutory interpretation matters.

Since joining Hogan Lovells in 2001, Ari leads the DC office’s Communications, Internet, and Media practice. He represents some of the world’s largest and most dynamic communications network operators and equipment manufacturers, as well as advises industry trade associations and investors. Ari works with medical device manufacturers, automobile manufacturers and suppliers, and other technology companies such as General Electric and Vodafone, to bring new and innovative communications-related products and services to market.

In addition to serving on the advisory board of several private technology companies and policy advocacy organizations, Ari serves on the board of directors of Crown Castle International. He is also on the board of nonprofit organizations including the Multicultural Media and Telecommunications Council and is President of the Duke Ellington Fund. He previously served as vice president of the Yale Law School Alumni Executive Committee and was an advisory board member of Catholic Charities Legal Network. Throughout his career, Ari has been committed to  serving nonprofit entities and to mentoring young minority lawyers as they pursue careers in communications law. Ari was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2021.