Haynes Boone Partner Laura Prather was recognized as a TEDx Editor’s Pick following her TEDxSurrey presentation on Jan. 24, 2026, where she delivered a powerful talk on the importance of protecting free speech and democratic freedoms worldwide.
Prather’s talk was selected as one of approximately 40 TEDx Editor’s Picks globally, an exceptionally selective distinction chosen from more than 50,000 TEDx talks delivered annually. The recognition reflects the talk’s timely message and relevance for audiences around the world.
Drawing on decades of experience defending First Amendment rights, Prather’s talk, “The Assault on Free Speech,” examines how threats to expression often emerge gradually and why vigilance and resilience are essential to protecting democratic freedoms. Prather delivers a message of hope, encouraging audiences to recognize emerging threats and take action to protect free expression.
“Free-speech protections are often tested in subtle ways long before they are challenged openly,” Prather said. “I hope this talk encourages people to recognize the importance of defending those freedoms every day, because protecting our right to speak freely is essential to protecting democracy itself.”
As chair of Haynes Boone’s Media Law Practice Group, Laura Prather has spent her career advancing and defending First Amendment rights. She has helped facilitate the passage of anti-SLAPP laws across the United States, including serving as an adviser to the Uniform Law Commission in drafting the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, a model anti-SLAPP law that has since been enacted in 16 states. She has testified on Capitol Hill in support of a federal anti-SLAPP law and has litigated countless anti-SLAPP motions and appeals. Recognizing SLAPP suits are a global phenomenon, Prather has worked with Anti-SLAPP coalitions in the EU and UK to help advance protections in those jurisdictions, including serving as an advisor to the Council of Europe in developing their Anti-SLAPP recommendations.
Prather has received numerous accolades throughout her career. She earned The American Lawyer’s inaugural Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award. In addition, she was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and has been nationally ranked by Chambers USA in First Amendment litigation every year from 2017 through 2025. She also secured a major First Amendment victory in 2025 for booksellers, authors and publishers in Book People, Inc. v. Wong, successfully challenging Texas House Bill 900 (the READER Act).
The Haynes Boone Media Law Practice Group is nationally ranked by Chambers USA. With offices across the world, Haynes Boone offers a full range of litigation, counseling and advocacy services in all aspects of media and entertainment law nationwide. The firm also supports clients with a broad array of services in connection with media, intellectual property, cybersecurity, data privacy and related issues.
