Stephanie Liston was born in the mid-west of the USA to a mother who was a first grade teacher and a father who was a finance director in the retail sector. Her father’s job took the family across the USA – from the mid-west to New York to California. Stephanie studied history and political science at The Colorado College. She studied law in San Diego, London and Cambridge. Her first legal job was with Fulbright and Jaworski, which had offices in Houston, Washington and London.
Stephanie joined MCI Communications Corp in January 1990. She was involved in forging joint venture agreements across the globe for MCI. She returned to the UK, where she completed her LL.M. at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, to join Freshfields in 1992. There she continued to advise MCI with its Concert joint venture with BT.
She was recruited by a number of firms throughout her legal career. From Freshfields Stephanie joined Baker and McKenzie, working on international communications and technology matters and being asked to join the international partnership. She was then lured away to McDermott, Will and Emery in 1999 with a very significant salary increase. She built a very successful telecoms practice from scratch – but without the international focus. Career lessons learned: Remember your core interests, consider your long term goals and do your due diligence! Stephanie was again recruited to Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering in 2003.
As the telecoms market continued to decline, She was invited to join the Ofcom Board in 2005. Stephanie commented that she believes Ofcom is now too focussed on content and not focussed enough on communications, technology and innovation.
Stephanie Liston was interviewed by Richard Sharpe for Archives of IT and her full interview should be published in May.
Stephanie Liston on Don’t Give Up
Stephanie Liston on Villainy in Telecoms
Stephanie Liston on UK Enterprise
