Jay Ward Brown > Ballard Spahr LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Ballard Spahr LLP Offices

Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K STREET, NW
12th FLOOR
WASHINGTON DC 20006-1157
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
Visit website 1 202 661 2200 1 202 661 2299

Jay Ward Brown

Jay Ward Brown photo
202.508.1136 brownjay@ballardspahr.com

Work Department

Litigation 

Position

Partner

Career

Jay Ward Brown has been representing news and entertainment companies for almost three decades. He has litigated defamation, privacy, copyright, subpoena, and access matters in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal and state appellate courts, and trial courts around the country.

Jay has been described in Chambers USA as “a lawyer who delivers continuously high-quality service,” possesses “impeccable analysis and impressive writing skills,” and has a “friendly, approachable and attentive demeanor [that] sees clients wanting to use him exclusively.”

Admissions

District of Columbia

Maryland

New York

Virginia

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of New York

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

Memberships

Trial Law Institute, Member

Diversity Law Institute, Member

Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section, past President

Media Law Resource Center Institute, past Board of Trustees member and past Chair

Law360, past Media and Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board

ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Media, Privacy & Defamation Law Committee, past Vice Chair

ABA Forum on Communications Law, past Governing Board

Trinity College, Adjunct Instructor in Law of Mass Communications, 1999-2003

University of Maryland School of Journalism, Adjunct Instructor in Media Law, 1995-1996

Education

New York University School of Law (J.D. 1992, cum laude)
Fellow, Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Program

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (M.S. 1985, with honors)

University of Minnesota at Minneapolis (B.A. 1984)
Phi Beta Kappa

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation

With a strong focus on First Amendment litigation, Ballard Spahr LLP is able to handle many of the increasing number of defamation suits being filed in the United States. The team also has a formidable track record in cases related to government transparency and access to public records, exemplified by the firm’s representation of 16 news organizations seeking access to videos related to the Capitol Riot. In Washington DC, practice head Charles Tobin focuses his practice on media defense, an area that includes prepublication content review, Freedom of Information Act requests and subpoena advice. Libel specialist Leita Walker operates from Minneapolis, and recently submitted written comments to the Minnesota Supreme Court in support of a rule change that would increase the use of cameras in courts. Also in DC, seasoned litigator Jay Ward Brown is highly experienced in fair use copyright and defamation matters; the DC-based lawyer also specializes in obtaining clearance for documentary films and TV series. Philadelphia-based lawyer Michael Berry is also a key name in the team.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

Firm Rankings