About

Provided by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Davis Wright Tremaine’s First Amendment litigation team is widely recognized as the leading group in the country. With a long history of handling high-stakes, precedent-setting cases, the team has successfully represented many of the country’s leading studios, networks, publishers, producers, creators, journalists, performers, and distributors. The team has a significant presence in the media centers of New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., as well as nationally recognized practitioners in the technology hotbeds of San Francisco and Seattle. The team brings its multidisciplinary expertise to bear in trial and appellate courts throughout the country, assisting clients in groundbreaking litigation affecting free expression, content ownership, access to public records, journalists’ privilege, and other vital issues. American Lawyer Media describes Davis Wright Tremaine as “practically synonymous with First Amendment litigation” and Law360 has honored the team as Media/Entertainment Practice Group of the Year for five years straight. In the Hollywood Reporter’s 2019 Power Lawyers issue, the magazine singled out Davis Wright for its “outsize influence on media at a particularly critical moment.”

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

First Amendment Litigation - USA - Nationwide

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What the Team is Known For

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP fields an impressive team of First Amendment litigators, providing first-rate representation to clients in the media and entertainment industry. It attracts acclaim for its expert handling of complex defamation disputes, and is also frequently entrusted to handle right of publicity and access-to-information claims. The group draws upon a deep, bicoastal bench of expert practitioners to offer a comprehensive litigation practice as well as regularly assisting clients with prepublication review.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Victor A Kovner
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Victor A Kovner
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Senior Statespeople
Victor Kovner is a hugely respected figure in the market. He offers a wealth of experience in defamation, reporter's privilege and privacy claims, and continues to advise a diverse client base, which includes clients in the news, publishing and entertainment sectors.

Victor always has sage advice and provides sound guidance in the intersection of government and media.

Elizabeth A McNamara
Elizabeth A McNamara
Star Individuals
Elizabeth McNamara is a preeminent First Amendment litigator with a stellar reputation defending media companies in high-profile defamation matters. She also demonstrates strength in intellectual property disputes.

Elizabeth is very good with people and witnesses.

Elizabeth is an incredibly thoughtful litigator. She is a tactician and extremely knowledgeable.

Kelli L Sager
Star Individuals

Kelli Sager is the undisputed doyenne of the First Amendment Bar in California, with an exceptional track record of representing national newspapers and major television networks in defamation and right of publicity claims.

She is a great strategist and misses nothing.

There is no one better than her. She is terrific in the First Amendment space.

Laura R Handman
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Laura R Handman
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Laura Handman acts for an impressive roster of clients, which includes major newspapers, reporters and digital media companies. She remains a go-to for complex defamation disputes.

Laura has it all. She is a brilliant lawyer.

Katherine M Bolger
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Katherine M Bolger
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Katherine Bolger's impressive First Amendment practice sees her regularly handling high-profile defamation claims on behalf of major media companies.
Nathan E Siegel
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Nathan E Siegel
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Nathan Siegel has a strong track record of handling high-profile disputes involving press freedom and politically motivated claims.

Rachel Strom
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Rachel Strom
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Rachel Strom has significant experience defending national newspapers, television networks and digital media companies in high-stakes defamation and access disputes.

Rachel has deep industry knowledge and a powerful understanding of defamation.

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Robert Balin
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Robert Balin offers prepublication counsel to major news outlets, and also often assists clients with defamation lawsuits and resisting subpoenas.

Rob is an excellent attorney who provides sound legal advice.

Thomas R Burke
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Thomas R Burke
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Thomas Burke receives recognition for his specialist knowledge of anti-SLAPP law. He is vastly experienced in representing media companies and journalists seeking access to sensitive information and other First Amendment litigation. He has been particularly active in disputes involving freedom of speech on the internet.

Thomas is dedicated, experienced and a strong defender of the First Amendment.

Ranked Lawyers at
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Provided by Chambers
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USA - Nationwide

First Amendment Litigation

Victor A Kovner
S
Victor A Kovner
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Senior Statespeople
Elizabeth A McNamara
Elizabeth A McNamara
Star Individuals
Kelli L Sager
Star Individuals
Laura R Handman
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Laura R Handman
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Band 1
Katherine M Bolger
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Katherine M Bolger
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Band 2
Nathan E Siegel
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Nathan E Siegel
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Band 2
Rachel Strom
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Rachel Strom
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Band 2
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Robert Balin
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Band 3
Thomas R Burke
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Thomas R Burke
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Band 3