LAWYER PROFILE
Jay Ward Brown

Jay Ward Brown

USA 2026

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Ranked in 2 practice areas

About

Provided by Ballard Spahr LLP

USA

Practice Areas

Jay Ward Brown has been representing news and entertainment companies for three decades. He has litigated defamation, privacy, copyright, subpoena, and access matters in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal and state appellate courts, and trial courts around the country. Jay also regularly serves as clearance counsel for producers of documentary films and TV series—including Oscar-, Emmy-, and Dupont-Columbia Award-winning productions—and provides legal vetting of stories for newspaper and magazine publishers.

Career

Admissions:

District of Columbia

Maryland

New York

Virginia

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of New York

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

Professional Memberships

Trial Law Institute, Member

Diversity Law Institute, Member

Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section, past President

Media Law Resource Center Institute, past Board of Trustees member and past Chair

Law360, past Media and Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board

Personal

New York University School of Law (J.D. 1992, cum laude)

Fellow, Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Program

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (M.S. 1985, with honors)

University of Minnesota at Minneapolis (B.A. 1984)

Phi Beta Kappa

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Media & Entertainment - District of Columbia

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Jay Ward Brown is sought out by major newspapers and television networks to handle complex First Amendment disputes. He has litigated defamation, privacy, copyright, subpoena, and access matters in the US Supreme Court, federal and state appellate courts, and trial courts around the country.

First Amendment Litigation - USA - Nationwide

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial
Jay Ward Brown is a Washington, DC-based attorney and a popular choice to defend complex First Amendment disputes. He has a strong track record of defending newspapers and journalists in sophisticated defamation claims.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Jay is the first stop we make for all litigation matters. He puts us in touch with the appropriate attorneys at his firm and makes sure we're taken care of, every step of the way.

    Media & EntertainmentChambers Guide to the USA
  • Jay has been the top lawyer for several years for us and we would recommend him highly. He has outstanding knowledge of the law as it relates to liable and media concerns.

    Media & EntertainmentChambers Guide to the USA
  • Jay is the best. He is extremely smart, personable and we trust him implicitly.

    Media & EntertainmentChambers Guide to the USA
  • Jay is a wonderful attorney.

    Media & EntertainmentChambers Guide to the USA
  • Jay has an outstanding knowledge of the law.

    First Amendment LitigationChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Ballard Spahr LLP (189)

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Colorado

Delaware

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