Skip to content
DWT logo
People Services Insights
About Offices Careers
Search
People
Services
Insights
About
Offices
Careers
Search
Desktop Image: Kelly
Mobile Image: Kelly

Chelsea Kelly

Counsel

T 202.973.4250 Washington, D.C.
 
  •  

Download vCard Download bio Print this page
Share

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

Defend clients against defamation, right-of-publicity, copyright, and other claims related to content creation. Experienced litigator who has represented clients in high-profile, bet-the-company lawsuits.

Pre-publication review

Counsel media entities regarding content prior to publication.

Khozissova v. Ralph Lauren Corp. et al.

Obtained dismissal of right of publicity claim brought by former Ralph Lauren model over her brief appearances in archival images used in the HBO documentary, "Very Ralph." Court granted our motion to dismiss and anti-SLAPP motion and granted fees. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2022; N.Y. App. Div. 2024)

Gubarev et al. v. BuzzFeed, Inc. et ano.

Obtained dismissal of libel claim brought against BuzzFeed and Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith by Russian tech entrepreneur and web-hosting companies named in what is now known as the "Steele Dossier," which was published by BuzzFeed in January 2017. The court granted our motion for summary judgment on the grounds that BuzzFeed's publication of the dossier was protected by the fair report privilege and the First Amendment. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their appeal to the 11th Circuit. (S.D. Fla. 2019; 11th Cir. 2021)

Standing v. ByteDance Inc.

Defended ByteDance Inc., owner of TikTok, in a copyright, Lanham Act, and right-of-publicity case brought by voice actor who alleged that TikTok's text-to-speech function used recordings of her voice. Case settled. (S.D.N.Y. 2021)

Cargile v. Serial Productions, LLC et al.

Defended Serial Productions, the producers of the award-winning investigative journalism podcast "S-Town," downloaded approximately 100 million times, in an important case of first impression under Alabama's recently enacted right of publicity statute brought by the estate of John B. McLemore, the main subject of the podcast. This lawsuit is the first in the U.S. to test the viability of a right of publicity claim in the growing medium of podcasts, and has implications for all producers and distributors of podcasts about real people that incorporate sponsorship messages or advertisements. Case settled. (N.D. Ala. 2020)

Loomer v. Facebook, Inc.

Represented Facebook against defamation claims by Laura Loomer, a conservative blogger and former congressional candidate, who was removed from the platform for violating Facebook's Community Standards. Loomer alleged that Facebook defamed her by stating that she had violated its "Dangerous Individuals and Organizations" policy. Court granted motion to transfer to N.D. Cal., and Loomer voluntarily dismissed the case before responding to Facebook's summary judgment motion. (S.D Fla. 2020; N.D. Cal. 2020)
Searching...

Admitted to Practice

  • District of Columbia, 2017
  • New York, 2015
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2017
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2024
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2024
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2019

Education

  • J.D., Yale Law School, 2014
    • Veterans Legal Services Clinic
  • B.A., Foreign Affairs and Comparative Literature, University of Virginia, 2011
    • Echols Scholar

Professional Recognition

    • Listed as "Up and Coming" by Chambers USA in Media & Entertainment (District of Columbia), 2024-2025; 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 by Thomson Reuters, 2020-2025
    • Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2020, 2022-2023

Background

    • 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.
Searching...
Publications
06.06.25
News
Chambers USA Affirms Davis Wright Tremaine's Growing National Leadership in Key Industry Sectors Read More
02.26.25
Presentations
Speaker, "Navigating the NIL + AI Legal Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities," Cooley Webinar
Publications
08.15.24
News
2025 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 180 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More
Publications
06.10.24
News
New Chambers Rankings Affirm Davis Wright Tremaine's National Leadership in Key Industry Sectors Read More
10.12.23
Presentations
Moderator, "In Defense of Advocacy," DOWNLOAD/NY
Publications
08.17.23
News
2024 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 175 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More
Publications
06.05.23
News
Chambers USA Recognizes Davis Wright Tremaine for Leadership Across Key Industry Sectors and Honors the Firm for Excellence in 51 Practices Read More
Publications
04.21.2023
News
Defamation, IP, Other Litigation
Court Dismisses Forest Company's $100 Million Defamation Suit Against Greenpeace Read More
02.23.23
Presentations
Healthcare
Panelist, "Unprecedented: The Landscape of Post-Dobbs America," DOWNLOAD, Davis Wright Tremaine, Los Angeles
November 2017
Publications
Co-author, "Course Handbook for Communications Law in the Digital Age 2017: 2017 Defamation Case Summaries," PLI
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.
DWT logo
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Media Kit Affiliations Legal notices
Privacy policy Employees DWT Collaborate EEO
SUBSCRIBE
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.