The 2021 Media Law Conference, organized by the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC), took place from September 29 to October 1, 2021, at the Lansdowne Resort Hotel in Leesburg, Virginia. This biennial event is renowned for its comprehensive focus on media law and litigation, attracting experienced media defense lawyers from across the country.
The conference featured a diverse array of sessions covering critical topics such as libel developments, ethics in media law, entertainment law, music copyright, fair use in copyright, FCC regulations under the Biden administration, and newsgathering challenges. Notable plenary sessions included discussions on public trust in the media, the Supreme Court's stance on Times v. Sullivan, and the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers.
Attendees had opportunities for networking through receptions, dinners, and informal gatherings. The event also honored distinguished individuals with the First Amendment Leadership Award, recognizing significant contributions to media law. The conference provided a platform for legal professionals to engage with peers, stay updated on industry developments, and discuss pressing issues in media law.
Speakers(72)
A.J. Thomas
Partner at Jenner & Block
A.J. Thomas is a Partner at Jenner & Block, focusing on copyright and fair use law.
Alan Friedman
Partner at Fox Rothschild
Alan Friedman is a Partner at Fox Rothschild, focusing on entertainment law.
Amy Howe
Co-Founder and Reporter at SCOTUSblog
Amy Howe is the Co-Founder and Reporter at SCOTUSblog, covering the Supreme Court of the United States.
Andrew Pauwels
Partner at Honigman
Andrew Pauwels is a Partner at Honigman, focusing on media law and ethics.
Anna Edgerton
Tech Reporter at Bloomberg
Anna Edgerton is a tech reporter at Bloomberg and discussed Section 230 and social media content moderation.
Anna Kadyshevich
Counsel at HBO
Anna Kadyshevich is Counsel at HBO, focusing on entertainment law.
Ari Holtzblatt
Partner at Wilmer Hale
Ari Holtzblatt is a Partner at Wilmer Hale, specializing in digital media and technology law.
Ashley Messenger
Senior Associate General Counsel at NPR
Ashley Messenger is the Senior Associate General Counsel at NPR, focusing on media law and ethics.
Barbara Wall
Former Acting CEO and General Counsel at Gannett Co.
Barbara Wall is the former Acting CEO and General Counsel of Gannett Co., with extensive experience in media law.
Ben Lipman
General Counsel at Las Vegas Review-Journal
Ben Lipman is the General Counsel at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, specializing in media law.
Bruce Johnson
Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine
Bruce Johnson is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in anti-SLAPP litigation.
Bruce Sanford
Partner at Baker & Hostetler
Bruce Sanford is a Partner at Baker & Hostetler, specializing in First Amendment and media law.
Carol LoCicero
Partner at Thomas & LoCicero
Carol LoCicero is a Partner at Thomas & LoCicero, specializing in media and First Amendment law.
Carolyn Y. Forrest
General Counsel at Tubi
Carolyn Forrest is the General Counsel at Tubi, specializing in entertainment law.
Chip Babcock
Partner at Jackson Walker
Chip Babcock is a Partner at Jackson Walker, focusing on libel trial strategies.
Christine Walz
Partner at Holland & Knight
Christine Walz is a Partner at Holland & Knight, focusing on copyright and fair use law.
Collin Peng Sue
Counsel at Netflix
Collin Peng Sue is Counsel at Netflix, specializing in entertainment law.
Dave Heller
Moderator at MLRC
Dave Heller moderated a discussion on the Dominion and Smartmatic libel cases.
David Heller
Deputy Director at Media Law Resource Center
David Heller is the Deputy Director of the Media Law Resource Center, focusing on media law and First Amendment issues.
David Logan
Professor of Law at Roger Williams School of Law
David Logan is a Professor of Law at Roger Williams School of Law, with expertise in defamation and media law.
David Vigilante
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at CNN
David Vigilante is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at CNN, focusing on media law.
Deanna Shullman
Partner at Shullman & Fugate
Deanna Shullman is a Partner at Shullman & Fugate, focusing on media and First Amendment law.
Elizabeth McNamara
Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine
Elizabeth McNamara is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in media and First Amendment law.
Erik Wemple
Media Critic at The Washington Post
Erik Wemple is a media critic at The Washington Post, analyzing media coverage and practices.
Fabio Bertoni
General Counsel at The New Yorker
Fabio Bertoni is the General Counsel at The New Yorker, managing legal affairs for the publication.
Floyd Abrams
Attorney at Cahill Gordon
Floyd Abrams is an attorney at Cahill Gordon and discussed the Dominion and Smartmatic libel cases.
Fox Butterfield
Former Journalist at The New York Times
Fox Butterfield is a former journalist for The New York Times, known for his coverage of the Pentagon Papers.
George Freeman
Executive Director at Media Law Resource Center
George Freeman is the Executive Director of the Media Law Resource Center, overseeing the organization's operations and initiatives.
Hedrick Smith
Former Journalist at The New York Times
Hedrick Smith is a former journalist for The New York Times, recognized for his reporting on the Pentagon Papers.
Janny Scott
Former Reporter at The New York Times
Janny Scott is a former reporter for The New York Times, known for her work on the Pentagon Papers.
Jeff Hermes
Deputy Director at Media Law Resource Center
Jeff Hermes is the Deputy Director of the Media Law Resource Center, specializing in digital media law.
Jennifer Dukarski
Shareholder at Butzel Long
Jennifer Dukarski is a Shareholder at Butzel Long, focusing on digital media and technology law.
Jim McLaughlin
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at The Washington Post
Jim McLaughlin is the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at The Washington Post, focusing on media law.
Jonathan R. Turley
Professor of Law at George Washington Law School
Jonathan Turley is a Professor of Law at George Washington Law School, known for his work in constitutional law.
Karen Kaiser
General Counsel at Associated Press
Karen Kaiser is the General Counsel at the Associated Press, specializing in media law.
Kate Bolger
Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine
Kate Bolger is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in fair report and neutral reportage privileges.
Kathleen A. Kirby
Partner at Wiley Rein
Kathleen Kirby is a Partner at Wiley Rein, specializing in FCC and media regulation.
Katie Townsend
Legal Director at Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Katie Townsend is the Legal Director at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, focusing on First Amendment and media law.
Kay Murray
General Counsel at First Look Institute
Kay Murray is the General Counsel at First Look Institute, overseeing legal matters for the organization.
Kurt Wimmer
Former Partner at Covington & Burling
Kurt Wimmer was a former Partner at Covington & Burling, specializing in media and communications law.
Laura Prather
Partner at Haynes & Boone
Laura Prather is a Partner at Haynes & Boone, focusing on anti-SLAPP litigation.
Leah Montesano
Senior Counsel at Discovery
Leah Montesano is Senior Counsel at Discovery, specializing in libel and media law.
Lee Levine
Retired Partner at Ballard Spahr
Lee Levine is a retired Partner at Ballard Spahr, known for his work in media and First Amendment law.
Leita Walker
Partner at Ballard Spahr
Leita Walker is a Partner at Ballard Spahr, specializing in media and First Amendment law.
Linda Amster
Former Researcher at The New York Times
Linda Amster is a former researcher at The New York Times, who contributed to the Pentagon Papers project.
Lisa Dayan
Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine
Lisa Dayan is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion for media lawyers.
Liz McNamara
Attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine
Liz McNamara is an attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine and participated in a discussion on the Supreme Court's stance on Times v. Sullivan.
Marc Fuller
Partner at Vinson & Elkins
Marc Fuller is a Partner at Vinson & Elkins, focusing on newsgathering and media law.
Maribel Perez Wadsworth
President, News at Gannett
Maribel Perez Wadsworth is the President of News at Gannett and Publisher of USA TODAY.
Mark Prak
Partner at Brooks Pierce
Mark Prak is a Partner at Brooks Pierce, focusing on FCC and media regulation.
Mary Kate Tischler
Senior Counsel at WarnerMedia
Mary Kate Tischler is Senior Counsel at WarnerMedia, focusing on pre-publication and pre-broadcast review.
Mary Rose Papandrea
Professor at UNC Law School
Mary Rose Papandrea is a professor at UNC Law School and participated in a discussion on the Dominion and Smartmatic libel cases.
Matt Schaefer
Senior Counsel at CBSViacom
Matt Schaefer is Senior Counsel at CBSViacom, focusing on libel and media law.
Matt Topic
Partner at Loevy & Loevy
Matt Topic is a Partner at Loevy & Loevy, specializing in FOIA and transparency litigation.
Matthew Leish
Partner at Miller Korzenik
Matthew Leish is a Partner at Miller Korzenik, specializing in libel and media law.
Megan Gray
General Counsel at DuckDuckGo
Megan Gray is the General Counsel at DuckDuckGo, focusing on privacy and digital media law.
Michael Goettig
Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine
Michael Goettig is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion for media lawyers.
Mickey H. Osterreicher
General Counsel at National Press Photographers Association
Mickey H. Osterreicher is the General Counsel for the National Press Photographers Association, focusing on legal issues in photography.
Robert Bertsche
Partner at Klaris Law
Robert Bertsche is a Partner at Klaris Law, specializing in media and First Amendment law.
RonNell Andersen
Professor of Law at University of Utah Law School
RonNell Andersen is a Professor of Law at the University of Utah, specializing in First Amendment law.
Sally Buzbee
Executive Editor at The Washington Post
Sally Buzbee is the Executive Editor of The Washington Post, overseeing the newspaper's editorial operations.
Scott Sholder
Partner at Cowan DeBaets
Scott Sholder is a Partner at Cowan DeBaets, specializing in music copyright law.
Stephanie Abrutyn
Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel at HBO
Stephanie Abrutyn is the Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel at HBO, focusing on media law.
Stephanie Wimmer
Widow of Kurt Wimmer
Stephanie Wimmer accepted the First Amendment Leadership Award on behalf of her late husband, Kurt Wimmer.
Tenaya Rodewald
Partner at Sheppard Mullin
Tenaya Rodewald is a Partner at Sheppard Mullin, specializing in copyright and fair use law.
Terence Keegan
Partner at Miller Korzenik
Terence Keegan is a Partner at Miller Korzenik, focusing on libel and media law.
Theresa House
Partner at Arnold & Porter
Theresa House is a Partner at Arnold & Porter, specializing in media law and ethics.
Thomas Williams
Partner at Haynes & Boone
Thomas Williams is a Partner at Haynes & Boone, specializing in media law and ethics.
Tiffani Lambie
Associate at Davis Wright Tremaine
Tiffani Lambie is an Associate at Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion for media lawyers.
Tom Clare
Attorney at Clare Locke
Tom Clare is an attorney at Clare Locke and participated in a discussion on the Dominion and Smartmatic libel cases.
Tom Hentoff
Partner at Williams & Connolly
Tom Hentoff is a Partner at Williams & Connolly, focusing on media and First Amendment litigation.
Tom Rosenstiel
Executive Director at American Press Institute
Tom Rosenstiel is the Executive Director of the American Press Institute, focusing on journalism research and innovation.
Event Details
- Date
- September 29 - October 1, 2021
- 3 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Leesburg, United States
- Lansdowne Resort Hotel
- Audience
- Experienced media defense lawyers
- CLE Credits
- Approved for six hours of general legal education in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas; applications pending in California and Washington.