About Todd
Todd Whiteley moved from a background in film and telecommunications into the practice of law. He earned a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University in 1987, majoring in Telecommunications and Film. While an undergraduate he served as the College of Fine Arts representative to the Grassroots Council, an early sign of an interest in policy and institutional processes.
A decade after completing his undergraduate degree he enrolled at Southwestern University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1997. That span between degrees gave him time to observe the rapid shifts in media technology and the legal questions those changes create. Law school added formal legal training to a practical grounding in production and communications.
After obtaining his J.D., he began practicing law. His educational background informs how he frames problems and advises clients. He approaches legal issues with attention to both technical detail and the realities of media production. Cases and matters that combine legal doctrine with questions about communication, content and distribution are areas where that blend of skills is useful.
Over the years his work has touched on topics where media and the law overlap. He has handled matters involving contracts, rights to content, and disputes that turn on how information is used and shared. He also advises on regulatory and procedural issues that affect publishers, producers and other communicators. His practice style reflects an understanding of editorial and technical processes as well as courtroom procedure.
Colleagues and clients describe him as pragmatic and steady in his handling of disputes. He tends to favor clear, practical solutions that consider both legal risk and the operational needs of the people and organizations involved. That pragmatic bent is consistent with an undergraduate training in a production-oriented field and a legal education that emphasized real-world problem solving.
Outside the office he maintains an interest in developments in telecommunications and media law as technologies evolve. He follows changes in regulation and courtroom decisions that shape how content is created, licensed and distributed. He remains engaged with the intersection of media practice and legal rules.
As of 2026 he continues to practice law, applying his combined background in telecommunications, film and legal training to matters that arise where media and communications intersect with the law. He currently focuses his practice on media and communications law.
