Media and First Amendment Litigation

Our Media Law Practice Group provides a full range of pre-publication and pre broadcast services as well as representation in state and federal court in all aspects of media law litigation, especially libel, slander and invasion of privacy cases. Our media clients include newspapers, radio and television stations, individual reporters and publishing companies. We also represent corporations outside the media business in connection with libel, slander and invasion of privacy matters. Our media law services include:

Counseling

• Pre-Publication and Pre-Broadcast Libel/Slander Counseling
• Media Law Training Programs for Journalists
• 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
• Freelance Writer and Photographer Contracts
• Advertising Issues
• Reporters’ Rights, including protection of confidential sources and responses to subpoenas
• On-line publishing

Litigation

• Libel, Invasion of Privacy, Defamation and Related Business Tort Litigation
• Trademark and Copyright Infringement Litigation
• Response to Subpoenas and Journalists’ Privilege 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, the lawyers in our group attend or participate in conferences and seminars sponsored by journalism organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Press Club of Dallas, the Texas Association of Broadcasters, the Texas Daily Newspaper Association and the Texas Press Association.