Our team is diverse and multidisciplinary, with extensive expertise and experience in telecommunications covering all types of networks and use cases. Our combined experience brings technology, financial analysis, regulatory, mathematics and economics expertise all under one roof, enhancing the benefits that are provided to our clients.
LYA Principals
Johanne Lemay, B.A.Sc., MBA
Co-President
Ms. Lemay has more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications and is a recognized expert in fiber and mobile networks, satellite, spectrum, regulatory, and investment-related matters.
Her expertise spans market and investment strategy, spectrum valuation, due diligence, and business case assessment. She has advised operators, investors, regulators, and legal teams across the United States, Europe, North Africa, Latin America, and Canada on complex, high-stakes decisions.
Ms. Lemay leads LYA’s advisory work on asset monetization and strategic transactions, including the design and execution of private auction processes for clients disposing of spectrum licences and other telecommunications assets.
She is actively involved in the development of public policy and regulatory frameworks, particularly in areas where technology, economics, and market structure intersect.
Ms. Lemay has acted as an Expert Witness in regulatory proceedings and litigation, providing independent, analytically grounded evidence. Recent expert mandates have addressed:
She has also supported clients in securing public funding for broadband deployment, including the successful development and validation of investment cases for rural infrastructure projects.
Ms. Lemay is co-leader in the development of LYA’s proprietary auction platforms, supporting Clock Auctions, Combinatorial Clock Auctions (CCA), Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and Reverse Auctions. These tools are integrated into LYA’s broader advisory work on spectrum valuation and auction strategy.
Prior to co-founding LYA, Ms. Lemay held positions in product development and management as well as international marketing at Nortel Networks.
She holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Université Laval and an MBA (Executive Option) from Concordia University in Montréal.
Her expertise spans market and investment strategy, spectrum valuation, due diligence, and business case assessment. She has advised operators, investors, regulators, and legal teams across the United States, Europe, North Africa, Latin America, and Canada on complex, high-stakes decisions.
Ms. Lemay leads LYA’s advisory work on asset monetization and strategic transactions, including the design and execution of private auction processes for clients disposing of spectrum licences and other telecommunications assets.
She is actively involved in the development of public policy and regulatory frameworks, particularly in areas where technology, economics, and market structure intersect.
Ms. Lemay has acted as an Expert Witness in regulatory proceedings and litigation, providing independent, analytically grounded evidence. Recent expert mandates have addressed:
- Spectrum valuation
- Roaming litigations
- Spectrum for satellite networks
- Broadband funding and subsidies in rural and remote areas
- Wireless infrastructure deployment and siting
- Mid-band 5G spectrum valuation and allocation
- National roaming and wholesale access
- Streaming services
- Benchmarking of broadband investment, and
- Regulatory frameworks for MVNOs.
She has also supported clients in securing public funding for broadband deployment, including the successful development and validation of investment cases for rural infrastructure projects.
Ms. Lemay is co-leader in the development of LYA’s proprietary auction platforms, supporting Clock Auctions, Combinatorial Clock Auctions (CCA), Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and Reverse Auctions. These tools are integrated into LYA’s broader advisory work on spectrum valuation and auction strategy.
Prior to co-founding LYA, Ms. Lemay held positions in product development and management as well as international marketing at Nortel Networks.
She holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Université Laval and an MBA (Executive Option) from Concordia University in Montréal.
Robert K. Yates, B.A.Sc., M.Eng., MBA.
Co-President
Mr. Yates has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector and advises operators, regulators, and investors on complex spectrum, network, and investment-related decisions. His expertise spans:
Mr. Yates works closely with clients on:
Mr. Yates is co-leader of the development of the LYA Auction Platforms that support Clock Auctions, Combinatorial Clock Auctions (CCA), Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) Auctions, Sealed Bid Auctions as well as Reverse Auctions. Mr. Yates has also developed the LYA Auction Management Tool, helping bidders to focus on strategic decision-making during an auction.
Prior to co-founding LYA, Mr. Yates held positions with Nortel Networks and Bell Canada focused on product development, technologies and marketing.
Mr. Yates holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Operations Research/Management Science, both from the University of Toronto. He also has an MBA from Concordia University in Montreal.
- Spectrum strategy and valuation
- Network evolution and capacity planning
- Infrastructure investment in mobile, satellite and fiber networks
- Licensing frameworks and regulatory policy
- Obtaining market access for satellite operators
- Valuation for satellite spectrum
- Financial modelling and economic analysis.
Mr. Yates works closely with clients on:
- Spectrum portfolio strategy and positioning
- Evaluation of investment trade-offs across mobile, fiber, and emerging network architectures
- Development and validation of business cases for broadband and infrastructure deployment
- Regulatory and policy matters affecting network deployment and competition
- Spectrum auctions, including bidding strategy and bid room support, competitive analysis, and scenario-based simulations, which are integrated into broader strategic and investment advisory services.
Mr. Yates is co-leader of the development of the LYA Auction Platforms that support Clock Auctions, Combinatorial Clock Auctions (CCA), Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) Auctions, Sealed Bid Auctions as well as Reverse Auctions. Mr. Yates has also developed the LYA Auction Management Tool, helping bidders to focus on strategic decision-making during an auction.
Prior to co-founding LYA, Mr. Yates held positions with Nortel Networks and Bell Canada focused on product development, technologies and marketing.
Mr. Yates holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Operations Research/Management Science, both from the University of Toronto. He also has an MBA from Concordia University in Montreal.
Expert Advisors
Adrian Vetta, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Economics and Mathematics)
Adrian Vetta graduated from the London School of Economics with a B.Sc in Economics and an M.Sc. in Mathematics. He obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002. He is a Professor at McGill University with a joint position in the School of Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Dr. Vetta has been collaborating with LYA since 2012. Dr. Vetta’s activities at LYA include auction platform design and rules, as well as auction bidding strategies & tactics.
Dr. Vetta has been collaborating with LYA since 2012. Dr. Vetta’s activities at LYA include auction platform design and rules, as well as auction bidding strategies & tactics.
Veena Rawat, O.C., Ph.D.
Dr. Rawat is President and CEO of Expert Strategies International, a consulting firm, advising national and international entities on telecommunication policies and regulations. In 2014 she became an Officer of the Order of Canada for her “contributions to telecommunications engineering and for leadership in establishing the global regulatory framework for radio spectrum management”.
Dr. Rawat has been working with LYA for many years, and provides expert advice on 5G spectrum strategies and global regulatory and technology developments in wireless and standards.
Dr. Rawat has been working with LYA for many years, and provides expert advice on 5G spectrum strategies and global regulatory and technology developments in wireless and standards.
Key Resources
LYA maintains in-house core expertise in key areas as well as relationships with firms and individuals specialized in areas such as engineering and economics.