First Amendment Litigation

Our First Amendment lawyers have over twenty years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in libel and privacy cases. We understand the unique constitutional issues involved in these types of cases and we have consistently obtained favorable results for our clients. On the plaintiffs’ side, in 2007, we obtained one of the highest settlement awards in recent years in a libel case on behalf of a company that was the subject of an article published by a Chicago area newspaper containing false statements that the company operated an illegal pyramid scheme. On the defense side, our lawyers have also successfully defended broadcasters, newspapers, website operators and other publishers in libel and invasion of privacy cases, often obtaining summary dismissal of cases at the earliest stages of litigation. We have also represented numerous clients in connection with newsgathering activities by litigating Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Act cases.

We are highly qualified to prosecute or defend the following types of cases involving speech or publication:

• Defamation
• Invasion of Privacy
• Commercial Speech
• Unfair Trade Practices
• Freedom of Information
• Open Meetings Acts
• Free Speech vs. Fair Trial Issues
• Protection of Reporters’ Sources
• Rights of Access to Information
• Antitrust
• Advertising

Media Law
In addition to litigation, we offer clients the following services related to media and entertainment law:

• Intellectual Property Licensing
• Marketing and Sponsorship Agreements
• Location Agreements
• Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements
• Release of Rights
• Prepublication Review
• Compliance Monitoring
• Responding to Subpoenas

eCommerce
We also support purchasers and vendors of eCommerce products though the following services:

• Service Agreements
• Maintenance and Support Agreements
• Privacy Policies and Terms of Use