Best Lawyers in America for Media Law

Tom Burke concentrates his practice on media, entertainment and intellectual property litigation and counseling. He has over 23 years of litigation experience in the trial and appellate courts including multiple appearances in the California Supreme Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and California’s Courts of Appeal. Tom's clients include: Amazon.com, The Bakersfield Californian, California Newspaper Publishers Association, CBS, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Investigati...

Alison Schary is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - First Amendment and Media Law. Alison, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alison is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nationally recognized authority in defamation law. Focused on protecting, defending and vindicating the most valuable asset many people and companies have—their reputations. In addition to being an accomplished business litigator for 25 years, Mitch Langberg serves as co-chair of the firm's Crisis Management Group. He brings his unique perspective on communications and media relations to brewing crises and those that have already erupted. Mitch works with individuals and companies to pr...

Diana Palacios is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Media Law. Diana, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Diana is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Ellen Roy practices in the area of commercial litigation. She represents media and advertising companies in pre-publication and pre-broadcast review, defamation defense, privacy law, courtroom access, public records and open meetings, reporter’s privilege, negligent misrepresentation, and other First Amendment issues. She also handles intellectual property law matters, including copyright and trademark counseling, litigation, registration, prosecution and proceedings before the U.S...

Nicolas A. Jampol is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television and Media Law. Nicolas A., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicolas A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Kushner has nearly 25 years of experience in media and communications law, focusing on broadcasting, media policy, and First Amendment issues. A trusted advisor, he is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on retransmission consent agreements. David has extensive experience helping businesses navigate the dynamic media landscape and the unique legal challenges that they face in the digital age. His media and communications practice focuses on issues related to broa...

Jeffrey Hunt practices in the area of commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on First Amendment, media, and intellectual property law. Mr. Hunt has more than 20 years’ experience litigating complex commercial cases involving a wide variety of industries and legal issues, including copyright, trademark, and patent enforcement actions; injunctions; securities litigation; enforcement of non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure covenants for employers, foreign litigati...

Brian Socolow represents athletes, teams, event owners, media companies, equipment manufacturers and others in the sports industry in complex commercial transactions and business disputes. He has handled transactions ranging from media broadcast and distribution agreements, sponsorships and trademark licenses to venue agreements and the purchase and sale of sports properties. Most recently, Brian has represented smart home services provider Vivint in its naming rights deal for the arena home ...

Elizabeth A. McNamara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Copyright Law, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, First Amendment Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Media Law. Elizabeth A., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal prac...

A trusted advisor, Marcus Trathen focuses his practice in the fields of communications law, utilities regulation, mass media, the Internet, intellectual property, and legislative representation. Marcus counsels clients on a variety of issues, including telecommunications regulation, media and the First Amendment, Internet law and regulation, and broadcast licensing and regulation. Marcus advises businesses on complex matters related to intellectual property licensing. Marcus has extensive exp...

Over more than 35 years of practice, David Halberstadter, the firm's deputy general counsel, has established a reputation among leading entertainment companies as a no-nonsense advisor and talented litigator. When other options fail, he aggressively pursues and defends lawsuits, with a focus on intellectual property-related disputes. Across all his work, clients value David's clear thinking, strategic wisdom and practical business sense. David represents motion picture studios, production com...

For more than 20 years, Gregory Herbert has litigated and counseled clients in the areas of intellectual property law, media/First Amendment law, Internet law, eCommerce, entertainment law and complex commercial litigation. Greg is board certified as a specialist in Intellectual Property Law by the Florida Bar's Board of Legal Specialization and Education, a distinction held by less than 1% of Florida attorneys. Greg has broad trial experience, jury and non-jury, in state and federal court, h...

Sam Lipshie practices in the areas of entertainment, music, intellectual property and commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He also has extensive experience in connection with the acquisition and disposition of media, broadcast and other intellectual property. Sam has practiced before Tennessee trial and appellate courts, as well as federal, district and appellate courts in many states. He has handled copyright, royalty (publishers, producers and talent) and intellectual property liti...

Holly A. Melton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Advertising Law and Media Law. Holly A., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Holly A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brandon Cate i s a litigation attorney based in the firm’s Northwest Arkansas office. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, including litigation involving ERISA, employment law, insurance coverage, real estate disputes, mortgage servicing, media law, and class action defense. Some of Mr. Cate’s no table successes include securing a declaratory judgment for landowners in a 27-acre adverse possession dispute near Harrison and securing a trial victory for Fayetteville homeow...