William Atkinson

Bill Atkinson is an experienced state government affairs attorney who brings over three decades of regulatory experience to his clients. Bill’s detailed knowledge of state public utilities commission Orders, rules and procedures, allows him to be an effective advocate and counselor to clients developing regulatory and legislative strategies. He works tirelessly to ensure clients’ regulatory compliance with relevant federal, state and local regulations. Bill has also tried many dozens of cases before numerous state utility commissions, and he knows how to present compelling legal and policy arguments before these unique regulatory bodies.

In addition to his telecommunications industry-specific work, Bill has counseled clients through growth phases and new product rollouts, as well as through proposed mergers and acquisitions, and anticipated discontinuance of regulated service.

Bill has extensive telecommunications industry experience. Bill joined Adams & Reese in April 2021. Before joining the firm, Bill was Senior Counsel and Director, Sprint State Government Affairs. In this role, Bill represented the company in state public utilities commission proceedings, other state and local agency proceedings, and state legislative matters in 14 U.S. jurisdictions. He worked on issues including wireless regulation, small cell deployment, tower siting, disaster preparedness, interconnection, and Lifeline service, among others. 

As Sprint’s counsel in state/local regulatory proceedings, Bill conducted oral argument and cross-examination of witnesses and participated in workshops, committee meetings, and industry conferences. He drafted petitions, motions, discovery, and talking points, and engaged in numerous other types of oral and written advocacy. In addition, Bill advised the company on a wide range of regulatory compliance issues, conducted extensive legal research, addressed customer complaints, analyzed and drafted legislation, filed numerous required reports, and managed the Sprint Atlanta regulatory office for 15 years. 

Prior to his work for Sprint, Bill spent four years as a staff attorney for a Georgia state agency with business before the Georgia Public Service Commission. 

Atkinson has a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and an M.A. in music from the Univ. of Georgia, and his Juris Doctor degree is from Georgia State University. 

• Atlanta International School, Parent Volunteer
• Lawyer volunteer, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation – Saturday Lawyer Program