Jenner & Block is pleased to announce that Matt Pearl, former Director for Emerging Technologies and Special Advisor to the Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House National Security Council (NSC), has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the Washington, DC office. Matt will be a member of the Communications, Internet, and Technology Practice and the Critical and Emerging Technologies Practice.
Over the course of more than a decade in public service, Matt has shaped US telecommunications and technology policy from senior roles at the NSC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). At the NSC, he led initiatives on cybersecurity, spectrum policy, 5G, Open RAN, IoT, global standards, cloud infrastructure, and international telecom security. He was instrumental in advancing key White House efforts, including the US Cyber Trust Mark, the Presidential Memorandum on Spectrum, the National Spectrum Strategy, and the global 6G principles statement.
“Matt has helped shape some of the most challenging and consequential technology policies of the last decade—from surveillance and cybersecurity to global telecom standards,” said Trey Hanbury, co-chair of the firm’s Communications, Internet, and Technology practice. “His deep, hands-on experience with spectrum transitions, space commerce, and national security strengthens our ability to guide clients through the most demanding technology and communications issues.”
Prior to his White House service, Matt spent over ten years at the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. He led the FCC’s work on several high-impact spectrum transitions—including the 3.45 GHz, CBRS (3.5 GHz), C-Band, and millimeter-wave bands—helping to unlock critical airwaves for commercial use. Matt managed large cross-functional teams, oversaw hundreds of thousands of wireless licenses, and played a key role in shaping auction policy and wireless rules. He also coordinated closely with Congress and federal agencies to advance national spectrum policy during a period of significant industry evolution.
“I’m excited to join Jenner & Block at a time when the intersection of technology, national security, and regulation is more important than ever,” said Matt Pearl. “After more than a decade in public service, I look forward to helping clients navigate evolving challenges in areas such as spectrum policy, global standards, cybersecurity, cloud and data center infrastructure, supply chain security, and emerging technologies by drawing on my experience at the White House and the FCC.”
Matt earned his JD from Yale Law School and BA from Kalamazoo College. He clerked on the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the US District Court for the Northern District of New York.