Wade H. Hargrove

Wade is widely known as one of the leading media and communications attorneys in the country. His influence over the media, telecommunications and broadcast industries has been monumental in scope. Wade spent his career representing many of the nation’s largest corporations, media companies, and national and state trade associations, counseling them in corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, FCC regulatory issues, contracts, antitrust, copyright issues, compliance, libel and slander, privacy, and legal issues involving the use of new technology.

Wade regularly helped shape government policy, specifically as it relates to the media industry. He testified before numerous Congressional and legislative committees on issues involving corporate law, copyright law, the internet, satellite broadcasting, open government, libel and slander, political broadcasting, cable television, and public utility law. He appeared regularly before the Federal Communications Commission and other government regulatory agencies, as well as federal and state courts.

Wade has been honored numerous times for his contributions to media law. He was named by The National Law Journal as one of the nation’s 10 leading media/telecommunications lawyers. He was awarded the Ward L. Quaal award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America, and was inducted into the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2013, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill established the “Wade H. Hargrove Colloquium in Media Law and Policy” to honor the UNC alum’s contribution to media law. The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters honored Wade with the establishment of the “Wade H. Hargrove Community Service Award” in 2011, given to North Carolina broadcasters who have demonstrated an abiding commitment to public service in their communities.

Wade has been active in professional and community service throughout his career. He served on the board of trustees and the board of visitors for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has chaired the North Carolina Security and Privacy Board, the North Carolina News Media-Administration of Justice Council, the board of commissioners for the North Carolina Agency for Public Telecommunications, and the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, among other organizations.