Samuel M. Bayard

Sam Bayard is a media and intellectual-property attorney with a strong commitment to his clients' freedom of speech and creativity.  He works with production companies, networks, streaming services, studios, podcasters, print and digital publishers, and other content creators to find how the law supports their creative visions, rather than standing as an obstacle to them. He gets excited about good content and fights for it tirelessly, whether in the courtroom or in the legal review process.

Sam provides counseling and content review to clients as they acquire, develop, produce, distribute, and promote a wide array of content, from scripted and unscripted television shows, to feature films and news programming.  Clients look to Sam for help with high-risk content, including docudramas, documentaries and docuseries, and variety/comedy shows that rely heavily on fair use. 

When claims arise, Sam defends his clients' rights effectively, responding to claims and litigating copyright, defamation, right-of-publicity, and other content-related cases across the country.  He also taps into DWT's full service platform to assist his clients with production legal, employment, advertising, trademark, chain of title and other issues and works with foreign lawyers to advise clients on the international issues that arise from global distribution.