Ambika Kumar

Partner

Co-chair, Media Law Practice

T 206.757.8030 Seattle
I help clients create, defend, and maximize the value of their content.
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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.