General Counsel Legal

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New Port Richey, FL ***** 571-***-**** ****************@*****.***

MONICA ECHEVARRIA-GARCIA

ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL/LEGAL STRATEGIST/TELECOM &TECH REGULATORY EXPERT

PROFILE Strategic legal leader with over 16 years of experience directing legal departments and cross- functional teams within the telecom and tech sectors. Known for building high-performing legal units, mentoring attorneys, and leading company-wide compliance and governance initiatives that reduce risk and improve efficiency. SKILLS • Legal Leadership & Team

Management.

• Strategic Thinking.

• Executive Collaboration.

• Mentoring and

Development.

• Cross-functional Project

Leadership.

• Skilled in risk management

and mitigation.

• Risk-Based Decision

Making.

• Proficiency in managing

litigation and dispute

resolution.

•

WORK HISTORY ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL 06/2022 to Current Lumen Technologies, Baton Rouge- Remote

• Ensures the company's adherence to all pertinent laws and regulations. This includes data protection laws, cybersecurity regulations, and telecommunications standards.

• Stay abreast of legislative changes and advise the company accordingly to mitigate legal risks.

• Provide legal counsel on corporate governance matters, ensuring compliance with regulations.

• Develop and implement legal strategies to mitigate risks associated with corporate transactions.

• Reduced the company's legal expenditure by up to 35% through effective negotiation and contract management.

• Engages with state and federal regulatory bodies to advocate for the company's interests and ensure its compliance with industry standards. This involves preparing regulatory filings, responding to government inquiries, and representing the company in hearings and negotiations.

• Led cross-functional teams including Network Implementation and Field Operations to execute a nationwide fiber deployment strategy, aligning technical execution with legal risk mitigation.

• Spearheaded the legal department’s collaboration with executive leadership, aligning legal strategy with business growth targets.

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• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts and ensures that all agreements, including those with vendors, partners, and clients, protect the company's interests and comply with relevant laws.

• Collaborate with executive teams to align legal initiatives with business objectives.

• Provides a blend of legal acumen, technological understanding, and strategic vision; by ensuring legal compliance, protecting intellectual property, and managing risks, for the success and integrity of the company.

• Achieved favorable dispute resolutions through skilled mediation and negotiation tactics before resorting to litigation when necessary.

• Procures legal compliance by developing and implementing company policies and procedures.

ATTORNEY ADVISOR 09/2019 to 06/2022

Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C

• Responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Communications Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Truth in Caller ID Act, the STIR/SHAKEN Caller ID Authentication Network and/or Commission rules.

• Provided legal counsel on complex telecommunications regulations and compliance matters.

• Investigated and took or recommended enforcement actions for violations of the Communications Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Truth in Caller ID Act, the STIR/SHAKEN Caller ID Authentication Network and/or Commission rules.

• Drafted and reviewed legal documents, including opinions and regulatory proposals.

• Represented the agency in administrative hearings and negotiations

• Investigated and took or recommended enforcement actions for violations of the Communications Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Truth in Caller ID Act, the STIR/SHAKEN Caller ID Authentication Network and/or Commission rules.

• Oversaw implementation and compliance with robocall mitigation practices and took or recommended enforcement actions against voice service providers for failing to take specific reasonable steps to avoid originating or transmitting illegal robocall traffic.

• Participated in the collaborative efforts to decrease the number of Robocall violations by up to 35% by implementing stringent monitoring and compliance programs and through meticulous oversight and targeted enforcement actions.

• Developed partnerships with the communications industry to combat illegal robocalls.

• Oversaw implementation and compliance with the process of registration of a single consortium to conduct private-led traceback efforts.

• Managed full implementation and compliance with the caller STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework and the criteria for an exemption under TRACED Act.

• Investigated and took or recommended enforcement actions to voice service providers that could not certify full STIR/SHAKEN implementation

IN-HOUSE COUNSEL 03/2017 to 09/2019

Puerto Rico Telephone Company Inc., d/b/a Claro Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR

• Provided regulatory and legal advice to the largest communications service provider in Latin America/Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier ("ILEC"), on matters such as traditional common carrier regulation, video regulation, VoIP, compliance with certain industry- specific and/or country-specific requirements and other IP-based services, interconnection, regulation of broadband internet services and universal service

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• Identified legal risks and executed mitigation plans by understanding legal issues and translating them into easily understood and practical legal advice and counsel to internal client groups

• Managed, negotiated and drafted a variety of complex and cutting-edge commercial and technology matters and agreements

• Reviewed, drafted, negotiated and provided business-focused legal advice with respect to digital and technology transactions (SaaS, software license, and software/application development agreements)

• Researched and analyzed telecommunications and information technology rules and guidelines for federal and state regulatory compliance and provided advice regarding the implications of regulatory policy involving telecommunications and emerging technologies

• Developed and Supported the Legal Department with ongoing and special initiatives, including process improvement, template development, and training initiatives

• Built and led a high-performing legal analysis team, identifying talent gaps, streamlining training, and improving legal service delivery year-over-year.

• Responsible for Regulatory licensing; ongoing regulatory compliance, including advising commercial attorneys and product managers on regulatory issues and providing input on regulatory sections of complex commercial agreements

• Participated in litigation-related activities including conducting internal investigations, litigation holds, reviewing pleadings and other litigation documents prepared by outside counsel, as well as other responsibilities

• Performed research and drafted memos, legal opinions, policy statements, agreements, and correspondence related to information technology, conflicts of interest, cyber security, privacy, broadband, municipal law, and other legal issues

• Largest communications service provider in Latin America/Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC)

• Conducted settlement negotiations with $14,000.000 in counterclaims. ASSOCIATE COUNSEL 04/2013 to 03/2017

Rodriguez Marxuach, P.S.C., San Juan, PR

• Advised and represented telecommunications providers (landline and wireless), Internet, cable, satellite, and cable television providers on all legal matters pertaining to telecommunications and information technology

• Advised clients on interpretation of FCC and state public utility commission rules and policies affecting their operations and counseled them on regulatory compliance

• Worked closely with in-house counsel of large telecommunication carriers and acted as outside general counsel to private companies that serve the telecommunications and information industry

• Independently handled all aspects of litigation from inception through completion regarding cutting-edge issues involving inter-carrier rate disputes, matters involving interconnection agreements (ICAs), tariff interpretation, access service charges and primary jurisdiction issues

• Provided representation and legal advice to developers of transmission towers from the acquisition of the desired sites, to obtain zoning and land use approvals, to the construction and leasing of space on the transmission towers to cellular carriers

• Ample experience in several practice areas, ranging from general litigation and contracts to specialized fields such as telecommunications

• Participated in negotiations and contracting with key customers, vendors, and partners

• Experienced in drafting contracts, including confidentiality agreements and non-compete, and managed every aspect regarding compliance of same

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• Ample litigation experience before government agencies such as, but not limited to, the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Puerto Rico Treasury Department

• Ample litigation experience before the state courts, including the subsequent appearance in all kinds of hearings

• Litigation experience before the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico

• Consistently achieved favorable results for clients in a variety of high-profile cases

• Provided advice regarding the most effective use of legal strategy to support and protect clients, governance and compliance matters, revenue recognition matters and other internal processes, policies and procedures

• Conducted legal reviews and analysis of contracts, financial documents, and legislation for governmental agencies

• Drafted legal opinions and briefs, bench memoranda, briefs on appeal, writs of certiorari, confidential memorandums and complex motions and oppositions EDUCATION Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, San Juan, Puerto Rico Juris Doctor, 01/2008

GPA: 93.2% Bar Score

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico B.A., Pre-Law, 01/2000

LANGUAGES Spanish

Native or Bilingual

English

Native or Bilingual

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