Fletcher Heald Closes; Lawyers Join Scale LLP

The 1935 media law firm, which served more than 1,500 broadcast stations, ceased operations as of November 1.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Media

Fletcher Heald Closes; Lawyers Join Scale LLP

Fletcher Heald & Hildreth, a media law firm founded in 1935, ceased operations as of November 1, 2026. Clients were notified late the prior week, and two of its media lawyers have started at Scale LLP this week.

Why it matters

The firm had served as legal counsel to more than 1,500 broadcast radio and television stations, so its closure affects a large share of the broadcast industry's legal relationships. Its attorneys are moving to new practices, which keeps media legal expertise in the market.

Fletcher Heald & Hildreth, founded in 1935, counted more than 1,500 broadcast radio and television stations as clients before closing on November 1. The source does not say how many clients will move to other firms.

The players

Fletcher Heald & Hildreth

A Washington-based media law firm founded in 1935 that served as legal counsel to more than 1,500 broadcast radio and television stations.

Scale LLP

A law firm whose Washington, D.C.-based team of approximately 15 attorneys took on two media lawyers from the closing firm.

Matt McCormick

A retired co-Managing Member of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth.

Peter Tannenwald

A retired attorney formerly with Fletcher Heald & Hildreth.

The details

Clients were told late last week that the firm would stop operating as of November 1. Seth Williams, who joined the firm in November 2018, began work at Scale LLP on Monday, and Adam Sandler, who joined as Counsel in June, is also among the media lawyers moving. Kathleen Victory and Frank Montero are retiring at the end of 2026.

June: Adam Sandler joined Fletcher Heald & Hildreth as Counsel.
November 2018: Seth Williams joined the firm.
November 1, 2026: Fletcher Heald & Hildreth ceased operations.
Monday, week of November 4, 2026: Seth Williams began work at Scale LLP.
End of 2026: Kathleen Victory and Frank Montero retire.

Market Landscape

The closure of a firm that counted more than 1,500 broadcast stations as clients reflects continued consolidation among boutique practices serving FCC-licensed broadcasters. Its lawyers moving into larger firms such as Scale LLP follows a pattern of specialized media regulatory expertise being absorbed into broader legal practices.

Broadcasters that relied on Fletcher Heald & Hildreth for legal counsel will need to arrange new representation after November 1. Listeners and viewers are unlikely to see direct changes, since the impact falls on station legal relationships rather than programming.

The takeaway

Broadcast stations that depended on a long-established boutique firm should review their legal coverage and identify successor counsel. Regulatory expertise in the media sector is moving to larger firms, so clients should confirm where specific attorneys now practice.