Co-chair, Appellate Practice Group

Representative Experience
Laura Handman, co-chair of the firm’s Appellate practice, concentrates on media and intellectual property law. She provides prepublication counseling and litigation services from compliant through trail and appeal to U.S. and foreign book, magazine, newspaper and electronic publishers and broadcasters. Laura has extensive experience in libel and privacy matters and brings recognized expertise to clients in an array of copyright, trademark and First Amendment issues.

Laura’s clients include Air America Radio Network, Amazon.com, BBC, CNN, Discovery Communications Inc., The Economist, Fox Television Stations Inc., The Guardian, Hachette Book Group USA (formerly Little Brown and Company), HarperCollins, The New York Daily News, The New York Observer, National Public Radio (NPR), Random House, Reader’s Digest, Reed Elsevier Inc., Talking Points Memo, and U.S. News & World Report.

Practice Highlights:

• Obtained summary judgment and 4th Circuit affirmed (Aug. 5, 2008) for talk radio network sued for libel over allegations of torture, rape and murder at Abu Ghraib prison

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• Defending author in libel and constitutional tort claims by Muslim charities arising out of allegations of financial support of terrorist organizations
• Defending online retailer in action seeking to ban magazines about cockfighting
• Defending daily newspaper in libel action brought by a sitting judge
• Defending trade show company in copyright and trademark infringement action
• Representing media amici in D.C. Circuit challenging contempt against former USA Today reporter for refusing to reveal confidential sources in Privacy Act case
• Defeated injunction in copyright infringement action seeking to prevent theatrical release of documentary, 2008
• Obtained dismissal of libel action establishing Maryland precedent for application of statute of limitation to mass media publication, 2008
• Obtained dismissal of libel action against daily newspaper brought by gossip columnist for rival newspaper, 2008
• Represented media amici in overturning injunction against online site, Wikileaks, for posting stolen Swiss bank records, 2008
• Defeated injunction against book publisher in copyright infringement action, 2007
• Obtained dismissal of libel action brought by coal mining company against union, 2007
• Defeated injunction sought by Facebook against magazine for posting sealed court records, 2007
• Defended magazine in libel action brought by scientist in anthrax investigation, 2007
• Obtained summary judgment, affirmed in 9th Circuit, in libel claim brought by Gennifer Flowers, 2006
• Obtained dismissal, affirmed in 11th Circuit, of libel by implication case for national newsweekly, 2001
• Defended broadcaster in privacy claims arising out of ride-along with medical examiner, 2004
• Defended broadcaster in right of publicity and Lanham Act claims arising out of promotional movie tie-in, 2005
• Defended British broadcaster in theft of ideas claim, 2004
• Defended music jingle house in copyright infringement action over major ad campaign, 2000
• Served as an expert on American libel law on behalf of American publishers and online book seller in connection with libel actions brought in England, Northern Ireland and Australia
• Established first precedents in federal and state courts refusing to enforce British libel judgments as repugnant to U.S. public policy
• Established precedents that satire is not commercial misappropriation and protecting editorial decisions as to choice of illustrations for newsworthy material
• Appointed special federal master by S.D.N.Y. judge responsible for reviewing all advertising and promotion of company subject to civil mail fraud action

Prior Experience
Former Assistant United States Attorney

Law clerk to a federal district court judge prior to private practice

Partner, Coudert Brothers

News & Publications
Author, “Protection of Confidential Sources: A Moral, Legal and Civic Duty,” Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, Spring 2005

Co-author (with Susan Seager), “Congress, the Networks, and Exit Polls,” Communications Lawyer, a publication of the ABA, Winter 2001

Co-author (with Adam Liptak, The New York Times), “Media Coverage of Trials of the Century,” Litigation, a publication of the Section of Litigation of the ABA, Vol. 26 No. 1, Fall 1999

Presentations
Moderator, "Publishing Leaks: The Practice & the Law," National FOI Day conference sponsored by the Freedom Forum, 2007

Panelist, “Reporter’s Privilege: Protecting Sources in Criminal Cases and the Risks for Lawyers and Journalists,” National Newspaper Association/National Association of Broadcasters/Media Law Resource Center Biennial Conference, 2006

Co-moderator, Libel Panel, Media Law Resource Center, London, England, 2005

Panelist, “Milkovich v. Lorain Journal, 15 Years Later,” ABA Forum on Communications Law, Boca Raton, FL, January 2005

Co-moderator of opening dinner panel, National Newspaper Association/National Association of Broadcasters/Media Law Resource Center Biennial Conference, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004

Panelist, “The Internet and Intellectual Property,” Inter American Press Association, Washington, D.C., October 2001

Panelist, “Representing Your Local Broadcaster,” National Association of Broadcasters, ABA Forum on Communications Law, Federal Communications Bar Association, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2001

Faculty member, “Online Promotions: Sweepstakes & Contests,” Practicing Law Institute, Fourth Annual Internet Law Institute, New York City, June 2000

Memberships and Activities
Co-chair, Council for Court Excellence, Committee preparing “Journalist’s Guide to D.C. Courts”

Founder and past Chair, Media Law Committee of the D.C. Bar’s Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law section

Past Chair, Communications and Media Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Past President, Defense Counsel section of the Libel Defense Resource Center

Professional Recognition
Named as one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” in National First Amendment Litigation, 2007-2008, and Media Entertainment in D.C., 2005-2008, Chambers USA

Ranked in the first tier of media and entertainment lawyers in both Chambers USA and Chambers Global, 2004

Selected to “Top 50 Female Super Lawyers” and “Top First Amendment/Media/ Advertising Super Lawyers,” Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, 2008

Selected to “Top First Amendment/Media/Advertising,”New York Super Lawyers®, 2008

Received the 2007 International PEN First Amendment Award from PEN USA, the West Coast center for the worldwide writers’ organization

Named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in First Amendment Law by Woodward/White, 1995-2008

Recognized in the area of First Amendment Litigation in “The New York Area’s Best Lawyers” list published by American Lawyer Media, 2005

Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Boston University School of Law, 1977

B.A., cum laude, Yale University, 1973