Skip to content
DWT logo
People Services Insights
About Offices Careers
Search
People
Services
Insights
About
Offices
Careers
Search
Desktop Image: Alison Schary
Mobile Image: Alison Schary

Alison Schary

She/Her

Partner

T 202.973.4248 Washington, D.C.
I translate complex legal issues into practical, real-world advice.
  •  

Download vCard Download bio Print this page
Share

Alison Schary is a media, entertainment and intellectual property attorney with deep experience as both a counselor and a litigator. She works closely with filmmakers, podcasters, editors, writers, production companies, networks, and other content creators and distributors to help them bring their creative vision to the world while minimizing legal risk. Clients turn to her to advise on high-risk projects including scripted docudramas based on real people and events, documentaries and docuseries, theatrical productions, memoirs, investigative reporting, and projects that rely heavily on fair use.

Alison is also an effective and strategic litigator with experience litigating high-profile cases and matters of first impression. She regularly defends clients in cases involving defamation, right of publicity, theft of ideas, copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, and other content-related claims.

Practice Highlights

Pre-publication review and vetting

Counsel publishers, reporters, and content creators across all media formats and platforms to help them publish their work while mitigating legal risk. Advise on newsgathering issues, access to courts and public records, defamation, privacy, and fair use.

Media and First Amendment litigation

Defend clients against defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, and related claims. Experienced litigator with trial experience and tech savvy who has represented clients in high-profile lawsuits.

Copyright and trademark litigation

Represent clients both as plaintiffs and defendants in claims for copyright and trademark infringement and violation of the Lanham Act.

Pre-broadcast and production counseling and IP advice

Provides pre-broadcast and clearance counseling for films, television series, digital content, and podcasts, with a particular focus on projects based on or inspired by real people or events. Also provides advice regarding show concepts, clearance protocols, and litigation risk. Representative projects include "Stormy," "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult," "Under the Bridge," "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets," "Orgasm Inc.," "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," "We're Here," "Dangerous Breed," "Trafficked," "Fifteen Minutes of Shame," "Prisoner of the Prophet," "Dark Side of the Ring," "Dark Side of the Decade," "Exhumed," "City Confidential," and "How I Caught My Killer."

OneTaste v. Netflix

Obtained complete dismissal of high-profile defamation case over documentary "Orgasm Inc.," which explored the controversial "sexual wellness" organization OneTaste, whose leaders were indicted for alleged forced labor conspiracy after the film's release. Court granted our Anti-SLAPP motion and awarded full attorney fees in six-figure range. (Cal. Super. Ct. 2024) Previously, in a related matter also against Netflix, we defeated an unconstitutional attempt to enjoin the film's distribution on the eve of its release. (Cal. Super. Ct. 2022)

Khozissova v. Ralph Lauren Corp. et al.

Obtained dismissal of right of publicity claim brought by former Ralph Lauren model over her brief appearances in archival images used in the HBO documentary, "Very Ralph." Court granted our motion to dismiss and anti-SLAPP motion and granted fees. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2022; N.Y. App. Div. 2024)

Mac Isaac v. Cable News Network, Inc. et al.

Defending CNN in defamation action brought by John Paul Mac Isaac, who claims that CNN's reporting and live interview of Rep. Adam Schiff accused him of being involved with Russian disinformation efforts in the 2016 election. (Del. Sup. Ct. Ongoing)

Standing v. ByteDance Inc.

Defended ByteDance Inc., owner of TikTok, in a copyright, Lanham Act, and right-of-publicity case brought by voice actor who alleged that TikTok's text-to-speech function used recordings of her voice. Case settled. (S.D.N.Y. 2021)
Searching...

Admitted to Practice

  • District of Columbia, 2013
  • New York, 2009
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2013
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2014
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2014
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2014

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 2008
    • Editor-in-Chief, International Law Journal
    • Citizen Media Law Project, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
  • M.Phil., Anglo-Irish Literature, Trinity College Dublin, 2005
    • Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar
  • B.A., English, Yale University, 2004, magna cum laude
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Yale Daily News

Memberships & Affiliations

    • ABA Forum on Communications Law, Training & Development Committee
    • Media Law Resource Center
    • Former Vice-Chair, D.C. Bar Arts, Entertainment, Media and Sports Section

Professional Recognition

    • Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Media & Entertainment (District of Columbia), 2024; Listed as "Up and Coming," 2023
    • Selected to a list of "Ones to Watch" in Entertainment and Sports Law (Washington, D.C.), Best Lawyers, 2022
    • Named a "D.C. Rising Star," National Law Journal, 2020
    • One of three lawyers nationwide named a "2020 Rising Star" in Media & Entertainment Law, Law360, 2020
    • National Press Photographers Association, Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit, 2014
    • 2012 Community Service Society of New York, Pro Bono Award Recipient for pro bono pre-publication review on a series of investigative pieces for City Limits Magazine
    • Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2012-2013

Background

    • Litigation Associate, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, N.Y., 2008-2011
Searching...
09.19.24
Presentations
Moderator, "You Might Want To Loop In Legal," Online News Association 2024, Hyatt Regency Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta
Publications
06.10.24
News
New Chambers Rankings Affirm Davis Wright Tremaine's National Leadership in Key Industry Sectors Read More
Publications
09.05.23
News
Press Photographers Achieve Historic Settlement With New York City Police Department Read More
07.20.23
Presentations
Presenter, "Ripped from the Headlines: Behind the Scenes with Top Defamation Lawyers," 2023 National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Meeting, Hilton Chicago, Chicago
Publications
06.05.23
News
Chambers USA Recognizes Davis Wright Tremaine for Leadership Across Key Industry Sectors and Honors the Firm for Excellence in 51 Practices Read More
02.23.23
Presentations
Media & Entertainment
Moderator, "When Truth Is Stranger than Fiction: Legal Issues in Docudramas," DOWNLOAD, Davis Wright Tremaine, Los Angeles
Presentation
01.26.23
Presentations
Artificial Intelligence
Guest, "Artificial Intelligence: Is it protected by the First Amendment," So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast Read More External Link
Publications
08.19.21
News
Twelve From Davis Wright Tremaine Named 2022 "Lawyers of the Year" by Best Lawyers Read More
06.02.21
Presentations
Panelist, "Improving Trust in Online Media," D3 Conference : Deepfakes, Disinformation and Democracy
Publications
11.30.20
News
Media & Entertainment
Five Straight: Davis Wright Tremaine's Media and Entertainment Team Once Again Wins "Practice Group of the Year" Recognition From Law360 Read More
Publications
08.03.20
News
Media & Entertainment
National Law Journal Names Alison Schary of Davis Wright Tremaine a 2020 D.C. Rising Star Read More
Publications
07.24.20
News
Media & Entertainment
"Rising Star: Davis Wright's Alison Schary," Law360 Read More External Link
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.
DWT logo
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Media Kit Affiliations Legal notices
Privacy policy Employees DWT Collaborate EEO

SUBSCRIBE
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.