John W. Pestle Counsel
- Office
- Grand Rapids
- Phone
- 616/336-6725
- Fax
- 616/336-7000
- jwpestle@varnumlaw.com
- jwpestle@varnumlaw.com
- Download
- V-Card, Resume
- Assistant
- Barb Allen, 616/336-6743
- Network
Telecommunications Experience
John is chair of the firm’s Telecommunications Practice Group. He represents property owners across the country (businesses, developers, schools, churches, municipalities, real estate companies, condominiums) on cell tower leases, amendments and buyouts in their dealings with companies such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, American Tower and Crown Castle. He also represents municipalities nationwide on cable and telecommunications matters including the grant, renewal and transfer of cable franchises; wireless internet agreements; FCC proceedings, and; cell tower zoning and leasing. He has worked with over 200 communities in 15 states on such matters. John resides in Pima County, Arizona, travels a lot, and so as befits a telecommunications lawyer "telecommutes" to work most of the time.
Education
-
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., magna cum laude, 1975 -
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
M.A., magna cum laude, 1972 -
Harvard College
Cambridge, Massachusetts
B.A., magna cum laude, 1970
Professional Activities
- Member of the State Bars of Michigan and Arizona
- Federal Communications Bar Association
- Former Chair of the Municipal Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan
- Has served on the governing Council of that Section
- Past Chairman of the Legal Section of the American Public Power Association
- Member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association
- International Municipal Lawyers Association (Technology and Franchise Section, Chair, 2007 - 2009; Municipal Contracts, Vice Chair, 2004 - 2006; Legislative Advocacy Committee, Ad Hoc Member, 2004 - 2006))
- Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (Professionalism and Education Committee, 2005 - 2007)
Recognition & Rankings
- Received the Member of the Year award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors in 1996 for his work representing municipalities on the passage and implementation of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
- Received a Special Award of Merit from the Michigan Municipal League in 2006 for his state and national work on behalf of municipalities to preserve local cable franchising and control over the public rights-of-way
- Ovation Award (1997 and 1995) and Certificate of Appreciation (1994) from NATOA for prior assistance to municipalities nationwide on telecommunications matters.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- Arizona
Community Activities
- Secretary/Treasurer of a condominium association, on the board of a homeowner's association, and a member of the Finance Board of his church
- Has been a Trustee of the Harvard Glee Club Foundation, Secretary of the Grand Rapids area child abuse prevention agency, and a Board member of Hilltop House, an assisted living facility in Brattleboro, Vermont