Charles Zdebski

Member

Charlie is a nationally respected Utility & Energy attorney and leads the firm’s Telecommunications Practice. With three decades of experience and a wealth of technical knowledge, he represents clients in the highly regulated energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors.

Charlie provides counsel on a full range of litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters. His clients include investor-owned utilities, alternative and renewable energy companies, telecommunications carriers, transportation companies, and infrastructure companies.  

On the litigation side, Charlie handles complex civil litigation, multiple agency proceedings and investigations, and appeals; represents clients in investigations by state regulators into pricing and marketing practices; and leads defense of putative class actions where there may be significant regulatory and civil exposure. He has successfully defended clients against claims of unfair and deceptive trade practices and unlawful pricing, violations of federal and state privacy or consumer protection laws, and breach of contract or property rights disputes.

On the transactional and regulatory side, Charlie helps clients solve problems involving infrastructure and facilities deployment, operations, and access. He regularly appears before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as well as state energy and telecommunications regulatory commissions. And he frequently represents companies in easement and right-of-way access, fiber leasing and infrastructure sharing, and maintenance negotiations.

Charlie’s broad experience also includes representation of aviation, maritime, and international shipping clients in matters before the Department of Transportation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Charlie maintains an active pro bono practice, representing individuals and families on issues of education law. He also serves on the board of directors for Vanguard Landing, Inc., a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to developing a residential community where persons with intellectual and developmental differences will be able to thrive and achieve their life’s full potential.

He earned his B.A., with honors, from Harvard University and his J.D., also with honors, from the George Washington University School of Law.

When not practicing law, Charlie spends time with his wife and six children, and sings and plays guitar with his band, Black Moon Tonic.

News

Cozen O’Connor Adds Litigator Charles A. Zdebski to Energy & Utility Practice

September 21, 2023

Veteran regulatory lawyer and litigator Charles A. Zdebski has joined the firm's Washington, D.C. Office.

Education

  • George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1994
  • Harvard University, B.A., with honors, 1988
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • U.S. District Court-Northern District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court -- Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Maryland
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin