Find Lawyers in District of Columbia, United States for Media Law
Practice Area Overview
Traditionally, media law referred to representing mainstream publishers and broadcasters with regard to First Amendment issues, defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuits, defense of subpoenas to reporters, issues of access to court records and proceedings, some FCC licensing work, and occasional copyright or trademark issues. However, in the Internet age and the digital delivery of information across state and national boundaries, if someone is a broadcaster, cable operator, newspaper or magazine publisher, advertising agency, blogger, Internet Web site, or Internet service provider, s/he or it is subject to the new media law, and probably on multiple levels. Today's media lawyer provides litigation, counseling, and regulatory services for the whole range of publishers, service providers, and disseminators of information, including the traditional services, but also including the protection of information and the use of information (data security and data breaches), FCC (ownership, content and rules issues) and FTC representation, E-commerce, cybercrimes, domain name issues, jurisdictional issues relating to Internet based claims of copyright and trademark infringement, invasion of privacy and defamation, and preparation of Internet-related contracts for web hosting, web site development, linking, and licensing agreements. Media law for some law firms also includes entertainment-related matters such as talent contracts, advertising law, and advice regarding contests.
Robert Bernius, a former partner in the firm, has tried jury cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country. He also served as general counsel to the firm. What do you focus on? I am a senior counsel of the firm, and in that capacity I advise the firm and its attorneys about all issues that arise in the contemporary practice of law. Litigation I have also defended corporate clients in jury trials and appeals throughout the country.
Laura Handman is the co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice and divides her time between the New York and D.C. offices. For thirty years, Laura has been providing pre-publication counseling and litigation services from complaint through trial and appeal to U.S. and foreign broadcasters, film studios, and book, magazine, newspaper and Internet publishers and non-profits. Laura has extensive experience in libel, newsgathering, privacy, right of publicity, reporter’s privilege and...
John Partigan is known for his extensive experience in public and private company mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, capital markets transactions, and corporate governance. He is the team leader of the firm’s national Securities practice. My focus My focus is on helping our clients achieve their goals, by efficiently and effectively structuring and executing on transformative transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, debt or equity financings, in...
Mr. Siegel represents media clients in First Amendment, intellectual property, and entertainment law cases in trial and appellate courts throughout every region of the country. He also provides pre-broadcast and pre-publication counseling to a wide range of print and web publishers, television networks, and film producers. Mr. Siegel's litigation practice covers a variety of issues for media clients, and has included successfully defending ESPN in defamation suits brought by major sports pers...
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.