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Desktop Image: Doran, Ambika Kumar
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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, she represents clients in cutting-edge litigation involving content liability and electronic privacy. Some of the world’s leading technology and media companies rely on her frank, direct advice and insightful advocacy.

Ambika has particular experience defending clients under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and other federal protections for user-generated content. She has helped defeat efforts to censor or otherwise challenge such content in courts around the country. She also regularly advises on and litigates First Amendment, defamation, copyright, and trademark, as well as public records, reporter’s privilege, and courtroom access for a wide range of clients.

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.

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.

Intermediary liability

Advised and litigated the rights and obligations of online providers with respect to content provided by their users, and the privacy owed to those users. Litigated the scope of protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Obtained an order enjoining enforcement of the tax ordinance that violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

Intellectual Property

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Libel, Privacy, and Other Constitutional Matters

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Internet

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Reporter's Privilege, Public Records & Subpoena Responses

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Other Litigation Experience

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Admitted to Practice

  • Washington, 2006
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 2007
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2007
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2013
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 2015
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2015
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2018
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2019
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2019
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2019
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2019
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2019

Education

  • J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2006, with honors
    • Chicago Journal of International Law
  • A.B., Economics, French, Duke University, 2002
    • Editor-in-Chief and President, The Chronicle, the daily independent student-run newspaper of the Duke community

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Member, Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington, 2020-Present
    • Member, Governing Committee, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law, 2015-2017
    • Member, Training & Development Committee, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law, 2010-2015
    • King County Bar Association
    • South Asian Bar Association of Washington
    • Board Member, Duke Student Publishing Company, 2002-2009
    • Executive Committee, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Professional Recognition

    • Named an "MVP of the Year" in Media & Entertainment, Law360, 2021
    • Listed as "Up and Coming" by Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial (Washington), 2021-2022
    • Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2021
    • Recognized as a "Trailblazer" in First Amendment, National Law Journal, 2020
    • Selected to "Washington Rising Stars," 2012, and "Washington Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2013-2018
    • Recognized as one of "Washington's Most Powerful and Influential Women," National Diversity Council, 2016

Background

    • Summer Associate, Baker & Hostetler LLP, Washington, D.C.
    • Summer Associate, Davis Wright Tremaine, Seattle
    • Public Interest Law Initiative Intern, American Civil Liberties Union, Chicago
    • Legal Intern, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Durham
    • Legal Intern, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, Chicago
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