A renowned public interest lawyer who has worked in communications and technology policy for nearly 30 years, Sohn recently concluded three years of service as counselor to then-Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler. During that time, Sohn played a central role as the agency formulated and adopted key policies relating to net neutrality, broadband privacy, broadband access and other matters.

Sohn’s work at Georgetown Law’s Tech Institute will focus on the vital role of open, democratic, accessible and affordable communications networks, media and technology. During her appointment, Sohn will publish articles, convene public events and contribute to Georgetown’s academic community.

Sohn joins a growing community of scholars and thought leaders focused on technology law and policy at Georgetown Law. Georgetown’s Institute for Technology Law & Policy launched last fall under the leadership of Executive Director Alexandra Reeve Givens, formerly chief counsel for intellectual property and antitrust on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Under the leadership of Faculty Directors Angela Campbell, Julie Cohen, Paul Ohm and Tanina Rostain, the Institute is dedicated to training the next generation of lawyers and lawmakers with a deep expertise in technology law and policy. It plays an active role as a forum for policymakers, academics and technologists to discuss the most pressing issues and opportunities in technology law today.

“We are thrilled that Gigi is joining Georgetown Law to further the conversation on public interest internet and communications policy,” said the Institute’s Executive Director, Alexandra Givens. “Gigi is a leading voice on promoting accessible, affordable communications networks that are available to all Americans. We are proud to join her in this work.”

“Gigi is a giant in our field who has been fighting for the public interest in telecommunications and technology policy for decades,” said Paul Ohm, Professor of Law at Georgetown and one of the Institute’s faculty directors. “We are so lucky to have her join us.”

Prior to joining Georgetown Law, Sohn spent three years as Counselor to then FCC-Chairman Tom Wheeler. In that role, she advised the Chairman on a wide range of Internet, telecommunications and media issues, representing Wheeler and the FCC in a variety of public forums around the country and serving as the primary liaison between the Chairman’s office and outside stakeholders.

Before joining the FCC, Sohn was the Co-Founder and CEO of Public Knowledge, a leading communications policy advocacy organization. She was previously a Project Specialist in the Ford Foundation’s Media, Arts and Culture unit and Executive Director of the Media Access Project, the first public interest law firm in the communications space.

Sohn has held academic positions at the University of Colorado Law School, the University of Southern California Annenberg Center, the University of Melbourne Faculty of Law Graduate Studies Program and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. In 1997, President Clinton appointed her to serve as a member of his Advisory Committee on the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters.

Sohn’s work at Georgetown Law is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation. In addition to her role at Georgetown Law, Sohn is an Open Society Foundations Leadership in Government Fellow and a Mozilla Fellow.

Sohn’s contributions will add to Georgetown Law’s strong focus in public interest communications and technology law. Georgetown Law’s Communications and Technology Clinic, one of the oldest student law clinics in the country, has long represented non-profit clients before the FCC, FTC and in court to ensure that communications and technology are used in ways that serve the public interest. Tech Institute Faculty Director Paul Ohm has been a leading voice on broadband privacy protections, testifying before Congress in support of meaningful rules. Laura Moy, Deputy Director of Georgetown Law’s Center for Privacy & Technology, recently testified before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee about potential state law reforms to protect consumers’ broadband privacy. Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy & Technology, headed by Alvaro Bedoya, is at the forefront of current policy debates involving consumer privacy.

In addition to internet and communications policy, the Institute for Technology Law & Policy also works on intellectual property matters, the regulatory environment for new technologies and the use of technology to promote access to justice and improve government services. You can read more about its work at www.georgetowntech.org.