Katherine M. "Kate" Bolger

Katherine M. "Kate" Bolger

New York, NY recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

189 Best Lawyers awards

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Copyright Law Litigation - First Amendment Media Law

Biography

Ms. Bolger is an experienced First Amendment and media litigator who has represented news and entertainment companies in a broad spectrum of content-related matters, ranging from investigative journalism to coverage of celebrities. In addition to defending media clients in court, Kate regularly counsels newspapers, magazines, and book publishers about pre-publication issues and advises authors on contract, electronic publishing, and intellectual property matters.

Prior to joining LSKS, Ms. Bolger was a partner at Hogan Lovells, where she co-chaired the firm's media litigation and counseling practice group.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

189 Best Lawyers awards

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Chicago, J.D., graduated 1998
  • University of Virginia, BA, graduated 1994

  • New York, New York State Bar Association

  • ABA First Amendment and Media Litigation Committee - Co-Chairperson
  • ABA Women in Communications Law Committee - Past-Co-Chairperson
  • Media Law Resource Center, Entertainment Law Committee - Past-Chairperson
  • New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies - Instructor
  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • ABA First Amendment and Media Litigation Committee - Co-Chairperson
  • ABA Women in Communications Law Committee - Past-Co-Chairperson
  • Media Law Resource Center, Entertainment Law Committee - Past-Chairperson
  • New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies - Instructor
  • University of Chicago, J.D., graduated 1998
  • University of Virginia, BA, graduated 1994

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Media Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Media Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Media Law, New York City (2024)
  • Media Law, New York City (2019)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Copyright Law
  • Litigation - First Amendment
  • Media Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • First Amendment Law

Case History

Cases
  • Rabinowich v. NYP Holdings, Inc. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2012)
Ms. Bolger won dismissal of claims against the New York Post brought by a rabbi who alleged that the newspaper defamed him, invaded his privacy, and caused him emotional distress by publishing an article and posting a video of him cavorting with two women who appeared to be prostitutes.
  • Kipper v. NYP Holdings, Inc., 12 N.Y.3d 348 (2009)
Ms. Bolger was part of a team that defended the New York Post in an action for defamation brought by a California “doctor to the stars.” The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the decision that the doctor was a public figure and held that he had failed to demonstrate that the Post had acted with constitutional malice.
  • Psenicska v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 409 F. App’x 368 (2d Cir. 2009)
Ms. Bolger was part of the team that defended the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in a trio of cases brought by various individuals who claimed that they had been fraudulently induced to sign releases permitting the filmmakers to include them in the film. The Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit, holding that the releases correctly described the film as a “documentary-style film” and that, therefore, any alleged false promises did not render them invalid.
  • Lemerond v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 2008 WL 918579 (S.D.N.Y. 2008)
Ms. Bolger was part of the team that defended a blockbuster movie against a lawsuit brought by an individual who claimed that the movie misappropriated his likeness because he briefly appeared in the film. The court dismissed the case, holding that the movie was newsworthy and that the use of the plaintiff’s likeness was related to that newsworthy content.

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