A Wilkinson Barker Knauer Partner who serves as Director of Social Responsibility at the Washington communications law firm has formally started her term as President of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA).
Natalie Roisman has served in a variety of FCBA leadership roles over the past 18 years, including as an FCBA Foundation Trustee and Young Lawyers Committee co-chair.
The FCBA — a 2,000-member strong volunteer organization — is made up of attorneys, engineers, consultants, economists, government officials and law students involved in the study, development, interpretation and practice of communications and information technology law and policy. It has been the leading organization for communications and technology lawyers and policy professionals since 1936.
FCBA members work on a range of practice areas that widens as technology evolves. With a commitment to supporting a robust and diverse pipeline into the profession, the FCBA launched a “Summer Series for Students” to provide substantive curriculum and career guidance to law students and recent graduates impacted by the global pandemic and is developing a diversity pipeline program to enhance internship opportunities for law students from diverse backgrounds.
“I am honored to lead the FCBA right now,” Roisman said. “As the tech bar, I believe we have a special responsibility to embrace 2020 as a moment of possibility. It’s an important time to strengthen existing connections and build new ones — and we are perfectly suited for this, given that FCBA members play a key role in ensuring deployment across the country of the technologies we need to stay connected for work, school, healthcare, entertainment and civic engagement.
“Our organization naturally is tech-forward and ahead of the curve, so this is a year for us to be creative: to experiment in the delivery of cutting-edge content, to expand our reach and to modernize our brand. It is also a year for us to take the conversation on racial equity in our profession and our nation to the next level. While our members may disagree on tech policy, we all agree that technology has the power to help drive equity and inclusion, and we will pursue concrete change in this regard. This bar has always been and will continue to be about the people in it. I look forward to working with the FCBA’s dedicated staff and talented leadership to make this year robust and impactful.”
WBK also has a long history of FCBA leadership; current and former WBK Partners to have held the title of FCBA President include: Bryan Tramont (2010–2011), Anne Swanson (2000–2001) and Kathleen Abernathy (1996–1997).
In addition, numerous WBK professionals have served in a wide range of roles in the FCBA and the FCBA Foundation.
“The FCBA Presidency reflects a unique convergence of capability, responsibility and recognition,” said Tramont. “Natalie’s career of top notch legal work, selfless sacrifice to community and deep commitment to the Bar earned her this tremendous opportunity. In this most challenging of times for the FCBA and the country, Natalie is the right leader to meet the moment and raise us to the occasion with her vision for our better future — WBK could not be prouder.”
Since joining WBK in 2008, Natalie has advised companies, trade associations, and investors on the impact of Congressional and federal agency policy actions in areas such as communications regulation, consumer protection, cybersecurity, and privacy and data security. She represents clients before the FCC, FTC, Department of Commerce, and other agencies, with a particular focus on the technology, media, and telecommunications industries.
Natalie also is the Director of WBK’s social responsibility program, WBK Forward. In that role, she leads the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, facilitates pro bono service, and coordinates the firm’s community engagement. She is also the founder and former chair of WBK’s Women’s Initiative.
