Hope Halpern BARBULESCU
Summary
Experienced legal counsel with a demonstrated record of mitigating risk, improving business operations, and increasing return on investment by successfully managing all types of corporate and technology transactions. Skilled in negotiating complex agreements, regulatory compliance and advocacy, and navigating IT and privacy matters. Trusted business partner with a demonstrated record of increasing overall profitability by renegotiating unprofitable contracts, integrating acquisitions, and establishing strategic partnerships. Focused on team collaboration and achieving results, adaptable to changing needs, and reliable in high stakes environments. Advanced communicator with executive presence, who readily explains complex legal documents and concepts to business stakeholders and clients. Known for strong analytical skills, effective communication and a results-driven approach.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Counsel – Global Enterprise Accounts, IoT and Connected Vehicles
Verizon
07.2017 - Current
- Negotiate and draft multi-million-dollar commercial contracts with Fortune 100 customers for services including cybersecurity assessments, wireless and wireline telecommunications, cloud, IoT, and connected vehicles
- Understanding of legal issues including data privacy, and information security relating to these complex product offerings
- Partner effectively with sales, finance, and operations clients to accomplish practical, revenue-generating, compliant business solutions, including developing and implementing overall strategies, closing deals, and resolving pre-litigation disputes
- Collaborate with international legal colleagues to close global deals
- Member of cross-functional 5G/MEC Tiger Team to address novel legal and contracting issues pertaining to 5G/MEC offerings and trials
- Regularly tapped to lead process improvement initiatives, and mentor junior attorneys and contract managers
- Closed a global deal with prominent electric vehicle manufacturer valued at over $87 M (1/2025)
- Closed multiple multinational deals with a major airline ($105M), pharmaceutical company ($34M) and global automaker ($30M)
- Lead multiple process improvement efforts, including the credit review process resulting in increasing speed of credit determinations; and a process improvement effort to create consistency when analyzing customer requests for Verizon to assume financial liability for data breach in wireless deals.
- Received 'Recognizing You' and 'All-In' awards from my team leadership and sales clients for bringing fortune 100 customer deals to a positive outcome for five years in a row
- Subject matter expert for customer disputes and data breach liability
Senior Counsel
Sprint Corporation
01.2013 - 12.2017
- Negotiated and drafted a high volume of complex multi-million-dollar agreements with Fortune 500 customers for distribution of Sprint’s prepaid handsets and wireless plans
- As part of Sprint’s Handset Theft and Fraud Prevention Initiative, I supervised outside counsel and was part of a that drove the litigation of 239 traffickers in 66 federal lawsuits in 16 states, achieving $232 million in judgment damages and cash payments and significantly reducing amount of trafficking fraud to save more than 400,000 handsets (worth +$172 million) that would have been lost to traffickers
- As lead counsel I closed a marketing agreement with major cable company with a projected value of $20M
- Reduced company risk by providing risk analysis for promotions and new offerings and worked with sales/marketing groups to bring novel products to market, by drafting and negotiating cross-marketing agreements with cable companies, accessories providers, and leasing companies, negotiated business deals and resolved disputes.
- Collaborated with Fraud Team and private investigators to detect and prosecute handset theft
- Recognized expert in sales and distribution agreements for prepaid wireless brands: Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile
- Saved money and time by creating a template library allowing the group to effectively and quickly draft agreements, respond to customer demands, and launch new services and promotions
- Selected for Sprint’s Mastermind Program, a cross-functional group designed to improve corporate center capabilities to impact business success
Principal
Chatterbox Services, Inc.
01.2005 - 12.2013
- Sole consultant for overseas and domestic telecom companies seeking to enter and/or navigate the US telecom market
- Worked with technical, sales, and tax departments and served as liaison between clients and state/federal regulators
- Provided guidance on legal issues and regulatory requirements, obtained state and federal authorizations, and filed regulatory filings
- Drafted and negotiated high-value commercial contracts, including handset acquisition and MVNO agreements, merchant arrangements with credit card processors and transaction service providers and other carrier and vendor agreements
- Successfully negotiated settlements on behalf of clients with state regulatory agencies and guided clients through regulatory audits and regulator requests for information on universal service, lifeline, and consumer issues
- Developed and implemented legal and regulatory strategies that minimized client costs
- Provided guidance on key telecom regulatory issues including VoIP, universal service, CPNI & Do-Not-Call requirements, and E911
Assistant General Counsel
Telstar International, Inc.
01.2000 - 12.2005
- Managed internal legal staff, customer care and outside counsel
- Developed and executed legal and regulatory strategies and represented the company before the FCC and state regulatory commissions
- Negotiated and drafted contracts with vendors and customers, oversaw litigation and arbitration and regulatory compliance
- Guided company through bankruptcy proceedings, liquidation, and dissolution
- Drafted hundreds of interconnection agreements with international carriers as well as colocation, technology, equipment leasing, software licensing and purchasing agreements, helping to make Telstar one of the top 5 US prepaid telecom providers
- Developed the company’s regulatory agenda
- Led winning lobbying and litigation strategy as Vice President and Regulatory Director for International Prepaid Communications Association achieving millions in annual industry savings
Senior Regulatory Counsel
MCI WorldCom, Inc.
01.1994 - 12.2000
- Lead counsel for regulatory and policy matters, including representing the company before the state public utility commissions throughout New England and New York
- Prepared briefs, worked with witnesses to develop testimony and prepare hearing appearances
- Handled entire litigation process, including cross examination, oral arguments, and discovery
- Managed local counsel
- Advised business units on regulatory issues, assured regulatory compliance, and advanced business objectives by achieving a favorable regulatory climate at the state level
- Successfully litigated telecommunications competition matters, including universal service, compensation for calls terminating to internet service providers and alternative regulation for local exchange carriers
- Negotiated interconnection agreements with local telcos in Connecticut and New England
- Successfully lobbied state decision makers, including attorneys general, public service commissions, and governors
Education
JURIS DOCTOR -
The Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
Washington, DCBACHELOR OF ARTS - Dual Major IN JOURNALISM And POLITICAL SCIENCE
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NYSkills
- Legal Consultation
- Dispute resolution
- Legal expertise
- Legal analysis
- Legal writing
- Evaluating contracts
- Contract Negotiation Expertise
- Critical Decision-Making
- Contract Drafting
- Conflict Resolution
- Corporate transactions
- Transactional law
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
- Florida (in house counsel)
Timeline
Commercial Counsel – Global Enterprise Accounts, IoT and Connected Vehicles
Verizon
07.2017 - Current
Senior Counsel
Sprint Corporation
01.2013 - 12.2017
Principal
Chatterbox Services, Inc.
01.2005 - 12.2013
Assistant General Counsel
Telstar International, Inc.
01.2000 - 12.2005
Senior Regulatory Counsel
MCI WorldCom, Inc.
01.1994 - 12.2000
JURIS DOCTOR -
The Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Dual Major IN JOURNALISM And POLITICAL SCIENCE
Syracuse University
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