Ambika Kumar

Partner

Co-chair, Media Law Practice

I help clients create, defend, and maximize the value of their content.

Ambika Kumar's practice focuses on the legal risks posed by content. With a deep understanding of how free speech principles apply to evolving technology, Ambika represents some of the world's leading technology and media companies in cutting-edge litigation. She has particular experience defending internet intermediaries under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and other federal protections. She has helped defeat efforts to censor or otherwise challenge content in courts around the country, working on more than a dozen lawsuits seeking to invalidate regulations on First Amendment grounds. She also regularly advises on and litigates other First Amendment issues, defamation, and copyright.

Ambika is consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers in her field, earning "MVP of the Year" in Media & Entertainment from Law360 in 2021, recognized as a "Trailblazer" in First Amendment in 2020 by the National Law Journal, and listed as one of "America's Top 200 Lawyers" by Forbes magazine in 2024.

Practice Highlights

Constitutional litigation

Obtained injunctive relief in multiple First Amendment challenges to state and local laws. Helped Microsoft challenge a federal law allowing the government to get orders indefinitely gagging online providers whose customers' information the government had accessed. Obtained the first Washington appellate decision establishing the standard for obtaining the identity of anonymous online speakers.

Intermediary liability

Advised and litigated the rights and obligations of online providers with respect to content provided by their users. Litigated the scope of protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, often obtaining dismissal of lawsuits alleging online platforms are liable for user-generated content.

Defamation and other content torts

Procured early dismissal or favorable settlements in dozens of cases alleging the full range of content torts, such as defamation, trade libel, tortious interference with business relationships or expectancies, misappropriation of personality rights, unfair business practices, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the federal RICO Act.

Intermediary Liability

Challenges to Government Regulations

Intellectual Property

Other Libel, Privacy, and Constitutional Matters

Reporter's Privilege, Public Records & Subpoena Responses

Admitted to Practice

Washington, 2006
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2007
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2007
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2013
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2018
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 2019

Education

J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2006, with honors
- Chicago Journal of International Law
A.B., Economics, French, Duke University, 2002
- Editor-in-Chief and President, The Chronicle, the daily independent student-run newspaper of the Duke community

Memberships & Affiliations

- Board Member, National Coalition Against Censorship, 2024-present
- Member, Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington, 2020-2023
- Executive Committee, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 2018-2021
- Member, Governing Committee, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law, 2015-2017
- Board Member, Duke Student Publishing Company, 2002-2009
- King County Bar Association
- South Asian Bar Association of Washington

Professional Recognition

- Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial (Washington), 2023-2024; listed as "Up and Coming," 2021-2022
- Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Intellectual Property by Best Lawyers, 2024-present
- Named as one of "America's Top 200 Lawyers", Forbes, 2024
- Selected to "Legal Impact Report: Top Entertainment Attorneys," Variety, 2024
- Received the "John M. Davis Award for Outstanding Legal Expertise," Davis Wright Tremaine, 2023
- Named an "MVP of the Year" in Media & Entertainment, Law360, 2021
- Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2021
- Recognized as a "Trailblazer" in First Amendment, National Law Journal, 2020
- Selected to "Washington Rising Stars," 2012, and "Washington Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2013-2018
- Recognized as one of "Washington's Most Powerful and Influential Women," National Diversity Council, 2016

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