Charles Tobin > Ballard Spahr LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile
Ballard Spahr LLP Offices
1909 K STREET, NW
12th FLOOR
WASHINGTON DC 20006-1157
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
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Charles Tobin
Work Department
Litigation
Position
Partner and Practice Leader of Media and Entertainment Law Group
Career
Charles D. Tobin is a litigator, former journalist, and the Practice Leader of Ballard Spahr’s Media and Entertainment Law Group. He defends the media in libel and privacy lawsuits in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country. He conducts prepublication content review and advises clients on subpoenas, access and privilege issues, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, copyright matters, and First Amendment rights.
Chuck also represents businesses in matters involving unfair competition, disparagement, and false advertising. He helps digital media clients respond to takedown requests, develop terms of use and privacy policies, and fend off subpoenas seeking the identities of anonymous posters. In addition, he advises media clients on the developing laws regulating drone use.
Admissions
District of Columbia
Florida
Virginia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
Member, National Press Club Journalism Institute Board of Directors
Past Chair, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Senior Editor, Litigation Journal
Past Chair, District of Columbia Bar Association Media Law Committee
Past Chair, Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee
Past President, Media Law Resource Center, Defense Counsel Section
Advisory Board, Indiana University Center for Media Law and Policy
Advisory Board, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Education
University of Florida (J.D., with honors); University of Florida (B.S., Journalism, with high honors)
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
- Real estate > Land use/zoning
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- Finance > Fintech
- Labor and employment > Labor-management relations
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport
- Real estate > Real estate
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Finance > Financial services regulation
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense