Chairman Pai Announces New Wireline Advisor

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that his special counsel, Nirali Patel, will now serve as his wireline advisor. Patel replaces Dr. Jay Schwarz, who is returning to the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis. In addition, Preston Wise is joining the Office of Chairman Pai as an acting special counsel.

Prior to joining Chairman Pai’s office in January 2018, Patel served as a legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and as a deputy chief in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau. Before joining the Commission, Patel worked in private practice at Hogan Lovells US LLP, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and Sidley Austin LLP. Patel graduated summa cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law and received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.