Michael E. Morrone joined Keller and Heckman in 1974. Mr. Morrone practices transportation, telecommunications, business counseling and transactional law.
With respect to his involvement in the business counseling and transactional practice, Mr. Morrone has assisted telecommunications clients in negotiating for (i) equipment financing and working capital loans, (ii) the securing of construction and system management services, (iii) the entry into tower and antenna site leases, (iv) the acquisition of telecommunications licenses and systems, and (v) the divestiture of assets. His transportation clients have relied upon him to advise on and negotiate their motor carriage contracts, as well as agreements for transportation property broker services. Mr. Morrone also devotes attention to counseling clients on entity formation considerations.
Transportation
- Represents corporate clients before the United States Department of Transportation, various State Public Service Commissions and the federal courts.
- Advises clients on the requirements imposed by the DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Materials Regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration Regulations, the federal regulations impacting for-hire property and passenger motor carrier market entry and subsequent conduct of operations; the productivity options available to the motor private carrier community; the transportation law implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement; and various issues regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act, labor relations statutes and customs regulations as they affect the transportation industry.
- Defended numerous shippers against undercharge suits instituted by the trustees for bankrupt motor common carriers and has also assisted shipper clients in developing and implementing customer backhaul allowance programs to comply with the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and the Robinson-Patman Act.
- Negotiates motor, rail and ocean carriage service agreements on behalf of both shippers and carriers.
Telecommunications
- Represents numerous corporate, partnership, and limited liability company licensees before the Federal Communications Commission, the federal appellate courts, and various state public service commissions.
- Focuses on the regulation of Cellular Telephone Radio Service, Personal Communications Service, Interactive Video and Data Service, Specialized Mobile Radio Service, Radiotelephone and Paging Service, Local Multipoint Distribution Service, and Common Carrier Point-to-Point Microwave Radio Service licensees.
- Assits clients in applying to the FCC for various authorizations, in developing strategies for market expansion, in complying with both federal and state regulations and statutes, and in negotiating and drafting various agreements on their behalf.
- Closely monitors emerging telecommunications technologies and the business opportunities they present to his client base.