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.

Defense of Media, Entertainment, and Technology Companies

Searching...

Defense of Nonprofits

Searching...

Affirmative Litigation Challenging First Amendment Restrictions

Searching...

Admitted to Practice

  • District of Columbia, 2017
  • New York, 2015
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2025
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2017
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2024
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 2025
  • 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, 2024-2026
    • 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.
Clear Filter
Searching...
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.
Close
Close

CAUTION - Before you proceed, please note: By clicking "accept" you agree that our review of the information contained in your e-mail and any attachments will not create an attorney-client relationship, and will not prevent any lawyer in our firm from representing a party in any matter where that information is relevant, even if you submitted the information in good faith to retain us.