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Alexandra M. Settelmayer

Associate

T 212.402.4070 New York
My goal is to get you to print.
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Alexandra Settelmayer defends the First Amendment rights of journalists and media outlets, providing practical advice while keeping an eye towards facilitating publication. She counsels on a wide range of issues, including defamation, courtroom access, newsgathering, and copyright matters. She has extensive experience advising media clients on issues related to FOIA and other public records laws, fair use matters, and reporter's privilege.

From 2020 to 2021, Alexandra served as the First Amendment Fellow at The New York Times where she managed the newspaper's FOIA docket. During her fellowship, she litigated freedom of information, libel, and access-related cases on behalf of The New York Times. She regularly counseled reporters and editors on newsgathering issues and provided pre-publication review.

Prior to joining The New York Times, Alexandra was an associate at an international law firm in New York where her practice covered a broad range of First Amendment, media, commercial, and white-collar matters.

Practice Highlights

Freedom of information and public records litigation

Alexandra routinely advises journalists on issues arising from FOIA and various state public records laws. She believes in the power of transparency and advises on the full lifecycle of public records matters—from guiding reporters on how to draft their initial public records requests to litigating when the government has failed to meet its statutory obligations.

Pre-publication review

Experienced with reviewing a broad range of content—including books, podcasts, and news articles—prior to broadcast or publication.

The New York Times Co. v. Federal Bureau of Prisons*

Briefed and argued before Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York in a successful bid to obtain records under FOIA related to Jeffrey Epstein's suicide from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. (S.D.N.Y. 2020-2021)

The New York Times Co. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services*

Obtained a report commissioned by the Indian Health Service detailing over two decades of sexual abuse committed by a former Indian Health Service pediatrician. (S.D.N.Y., 2nd Cir. 2020-2021) 

The New York Times Co. v. New York City Department of Social Services*

Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement in a FOIL lawsuit challenging the New York City Department of Social Services' denial of a request seeking records regarding homeless shelters. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2021) 

Nicholas v. City of N.Y.*

Represented a photojournalist in a § 1983 action against the City of New York alleging violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights after the NYPD confiscated his press credential while he was photographing the victim of a recent building collapse. (S.D.N.Y. 2019-2020)
*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
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Admitted to Practice

  • New York, 2018
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2020

Education

  • J.D., Columbia Law School, 2017
    • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
    • Parker School Certificate for Achievement in Foreign and Comparative Law
    • Notes Editor, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law
    • Vice President, National Security Law Society
  • B.A., Economics, New York University, 2013
    • Dean's List

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Co-Chair, MLRC Next Generation Committee, 2020-present

Background

    • First Amendment Fellow, The New York Times, New York, 2020-2021
    • Associate, 2017-2020; Summer Associate, 2016 – Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, New York
    • Research Assistant, Prof. Matthew Waxman, Columbia Law School, New York, 2015
    • Summer Law Clerk, Subcommittee on the Constitution, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Washington, D.C., 2015
    • Litigation Fellow, Office of General Counsel, Hearst Corporation, New York, 2013-2014
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Publications
09.05.23
News
Press Photographers Achieve Historic Settlement With New York City Police Department Read More
08.24.21
Publications
"Second Circuit Holds California's Anti-SLAPP Statute Inapplicable in Federal Court Proceedings"
07.07.21
Publications
"D.C. Circuit Upholds Injunction Preventing Suspension of Journalist's White House Press Credentials"
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