Media and First Amendment

Our Media and First Amendment Practice Group provides a full range of both counseling and litigation services in all aspects of media and First Amendment law. We regularly serve media clients, including both print and online publishers and newspapers, broadcasters and individual authors and journalists. We also represent clients outside the media business in connection with libel, invasion of privacy and public information matters. Our media law services include:  

Counseling

• Pre-Publication and Pre-Broadcast Review and Counseling
• Media Access Issues, including the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act, the United States Freedom of Information Act and the Sealing of Court Records
• Trademark, Service Mark and Copyright Fair Use Issues
• Journalists’ Privilege issues, including issues relating to protection of confidential sources
• Online Publishing
• Freelance Writer and Photographer Contracts
• Advertising Issues 

Litigation and Appeals

• Libel, Invasion of Privacy, Defamation and Related Business Tort Litigation
• Trademark and Copyright Infringement Litigation
• Response to Subpoenas and Journalists’ Privilege Issues
• Access litigation, including litigation under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act
• Prior Restraint and Anti-SLAPP issues 

Industry Knowledge 

The lawyers in our Media Law Practice Group have a practical understanding and knowledge of the particular problems and issues media clients face. All have had a significant media law practice, and two of our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience serving media clients. 

Cutting-Edge Developments

Our lawyers are active in numerous professional organizations related to representations of clients in the media and are active members of the Defense Counsel Section of the Media Law Resource Center, a national organization promoting the development of libel law favorable to the media. To stay abreast of current developments, our Media and First Amendment lawyers attend or participate in conferences and seminars sponsored by or in conjunction with media industry organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Press Club of Dallas, the Newspaper Association of America, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Texas Association of Broadcasters, the Texas Daily Newspaper Association and the Texas Press Association.