Chelsea Kelly counsels and defends clients in the media and technology industries, particularly involving defamation, copyright, trademark, right-of-publicity, newsgathering, and constitutional matters. An avid litigator, she has successfully argued before multiple courts, and has represented clients across the country.
Chelsea works to achieve the best possible results in litigation—whether that means winning a dispositive motion or taking the case to trial. She also assists clients in preventing litigation by reviewing and revising content prior to publication. Chelsea's clients include major technology platforms, entertainment companies, news outlets, individual journalists, podcast producers, publishers, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations.
Practice Highlights
Media and First Amendment litigation
Pre-publication review
Admitted to Practice
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District of Columbia, 2017
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New York, 2015
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U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2019
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2017
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U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2024
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2024
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2019
Education
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J.D., Yale Law School, 2014
- Veterans Legal Services Clinic
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B.A., Foreign Affairs and Comparative Literature, University of Virginia, 2011
- Echols Scholar
Professional Recognition
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- Listed as "Up and Coming" by Chambers USA in Media & Entertainment (District of Columbia), 2024; Listed among "Associates to Watch," 2023
- Named "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in Intellectual Property Law, 2024-2025
- Selected to "Washington D.C. Rising Stars" in Media/Advertising, Thomson Reuters, 2020-2023
- Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2020, 2022-2023
Background
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- Associate, Williams & Connolly LLP, Washington, D.C., 2016-2018
- Law Clerk, Hon. Cecilia M.Altonaga, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami, 2015-2016
- Associate, 2014-2015; Summer Associate, 2013 – Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, N.Y.