Adam S. Sieff

Partner

T 213.633.8618 Los Angeles
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Adam Sieff is a media and constitutional litigator. A recognized authority on emerging issues involving the regulation of digital media technologies, he represents internet, media, and technology clients in First Amendment, Section 230, and related constitutional litigation and appeals, including challenges to state and federal laws. Adam also defends advocacy organizations, charitable foundations, universities, investigative journalists, and corporate ESG programs against SLAPPs and regulations targeting their protected activity, as well as organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights in voting and civil rights impact litigation. Named a "Rising Star" by Law360 and a "Lawyer on the Fast Track" by The Recorder and American Legal Media, Adam and his teams have been twice honored as the American Lawyer's "Litigators of the Week," and as Law360's "Legal Lions of the Week," for First Amendment victories striking down unconstitutional internet regulations.

Outside his practice, Adam is a lecturer in law at the University of Southern California, where he teaches courses covering the First Amendment and constitutional law. He has also served as Executive Vice Chair of the American Constitution Society in Los Angeles, and on boards of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California and Bet Tzedek, among other statewide and community nonprofit organizations. The Los Angeles County Empowerment Congress named Adam a "40 Under 40: Emerging Civic Leader," and Equality California honored him with its Community Leadership Award.

Prior to joining DWT, Adam served as voting rights and election integrity litigation counsel to the Biden for President campaign, practiced for several years in the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices of an international law firm, and clerked for the Hon. Christina A. Snyder of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Practice Highlights

First Amendment and media litigation

Adam defends global internet platforms in litigation involving unconstitutional threats to their publication, content moderation, and editorial practices. He also defends digital media technologies targeted by government censors. He has successfully defended internet platforms in numerous cases involving claims stemming from third-party content and platform editorial activity, and won injunctions, consent decrees, and non-enforcement agreements in First Amendment challenges to state laws restricting the use of algorithms and generative AI to publish content. His broader media practice includes defeating multimillion-dollar right of publicity claims with First Amendment defenses, and protecting creative brands' IP from infringement in online marketplaces.

Regulatory and constitutional litigation

Adam also litigates federal pre-emption, Commerce Clause, Due Process, and other constitutional claims on behalf of national trade associations, regulated entities, telecommunications firms, and civil rights plaintiffs. He has prevented enforcement of enterprise-threatening statutes, won and protected injunctions against constitutional violations, and successfully tried Section 1983 actions against government defendants in federal court. Adam also counsels clients in enforcement actions brought by state attorneys general and other regulators, and has particular experience challenging government regulatory authority under state and federal constitutions. In addition to litigation, Adam also provides policy counsel on pending legislation and ballot measures.

Civil rights, anti-discrimination, and ESG defense

Adam defends advocacy groups, charities, foundations, universities, and businesses in connection with their ESG programs and other constitutionally protected activities. He has advised a multibillion-dollar private foundation's grantmaking to avoid liability under Section 1981; guided a public charity's negotiations with a government partner to protect its own First Amendment rights in its grantmaking; counseled universities on First Amendment and Title VI matters; defended an advocacy group from government interference; and supported financial institutions' rights to engage in socially conscious investing.