Kelli L Sager

Practice Areas

Kelli Sager has more than 35 years of experience representing all kinds of media/entertainment companies, including web publishers, broadcasters, filmmakers, newspapers, and book publishers. She consistently has been recognized as one of the top First Amendment attorneys in the country: among other accolades, Chambers USA has ranked her for over 10 consecutive years in its top tier of media attorneys in the U.S.; she has been one of Lawdragon's 500 Leading Lawyers in America since 2005, and she regularly is included in the Los Angeles Daily Journal's lists of top lawyers in California. In 2019, Kelli received the "Excellence in Advocacy" award from the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the first woman to receive that honor. Kelli has argued dozens of times in federal and state appellate courts, including many times in the California Supreme Court and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. She has served in leadership roles in virtually every media-related bar association and nonprofit, including chairing the ABA Forum on Communications Law, the IBA's Media Committee, and the Media Law Resource Center Defense Counsel Section.

Professional Memberships

Ad Hoc Committee on Cameras in the Courtroom, Judicial Council of the 9th Circuit, 2019-2022

Chair, North American Forum, 2020-present; Chair, Media Committee, 2009-2011 – International Bar Association

President, 2008-2009; Ex-Officio, 2009-2010; Executive Committee Member, 2006-2008 – Media Law Resource Center Defense Counsel Section

Bench Bar Media Steering Committee, Judicial Council of California, 2008-2010

Western Division Chair, 2002-2016; Immediate Past Chair, 2000-2002; Former Chair, 1998-2000; Governing Board, 1997-1998 – ABA Forum on Communications Law

Chair, 9th Circuit Conference Executive Committee, 2008-2009; Program Chair, 2007-2008; Committee Member, 2005-2007; 9th Circuit Judicial Conference Attorney Delegate (C.D. Cal.), 2002-200; Public Information and Community Outreach Committee, 2009-present

International Advisory Board, National Institute of Entertainment and Media Law, Southwestern University of Law, 2001-present

Donald W. Reynolds National Center for the Courts and Media Advisory Committee, National Judicial College, 2000-present

Co-chair, First Amendment Committee, Litigation Section, American Bar Association, 2005-2008

Board of Directors, 2002-2006; Treasurer, 2005-2006 – Los Angeles Copyright Society

Board of Directors, Public Counsel, 2001-2007