Courtney DeThomas is a skilled and thoughtful litigator with a national practice counseling and defending clients primarily in the tech, telecom, and entertainment/media industries. A people person and good listener, Courtney is especially adept at defending her clients’ creativity and intellectual property and standing up for their right to speak freely. She routinely litigates complex defamation, copyright, breach-of-contract, and other business torts in state and federal courts across the country, to include representation through trial and jury verdict.
Courtney maintains an active pro bono practice and is proud to represent clients in matters relating to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, free speech and due process violations, and reproductive rights.
Admitted to Practice
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California, 2013
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District of Columbia, 2018
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U.S. District Court, Central District of California
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
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U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
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U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
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U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
Education
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J.D., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 2013, cum laude
- Executive Board Member and Competitor, Julius H. Miner Moot Court
- Editorial Staff, Journal of International Law and Business
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B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007, highest honors
- Academic All-American and Team Captain, Division I Varsity Gymnastics Team
- Minor, Creative Writing
Professional Recognition
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- Selected to a list of "Ones to Watch" in Communications Law (Washington, D.C.), Best Lawyers, 2022
- Received the "Courageous Luminary Award" for work on a FOIA action regarding information-sharing by state driver's license agencies, National Immigration Law Center, 2015
- Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2024 (High Honors)
Background
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- Associate, Litigation, Paul Hastings LLP, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, 2013-2019
- Extern, Hon James B. Zagel, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, 2011
- Assistant Editor, Random House Publishing Group, New York, N.Y., 2008-2010