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Laurie A. Babinski

Laurie Babinski is a litigator who defends media companies and reporters in libel and invasion of privacy actions. She counsels media and publishing clients on newsgathering, freedom of information, copyright and contract matters. Ms. Babinski regularly advises the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s oldest and largest journalism organization, on litigation and legislation that has the potential to impact the daily work of reporters, editors and photographers. She also conducts pre-publication review of books and articles for libel, privacy and copyright issues.

Ms. Babinski has defended numerous defamation actions, including two claims brought against newspapers by sitting judges, a claim brought against a website by a practicing attorney and another claim brought against a major newspaper and consumer advocacy organization by an animal rights group. She was involved in the resolution of an emergency appeal of a prior restraint which prohibited a legal newspaper from publishing information obtained from public court files. Ms. Babinski participated in the appeals to the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court of the first Section 10(b) enforcement action brought by the SEC against a disinterested publisher of financial news and commentary. She also assisted in the appeal of a precedential case in the Maryland Court of Appeals that set the standard for unmasking anonymous Internet commenters.

As a general litigator, Ms. Babinski advises clients on corporate matters and handles commercial litigation in federal and state courts. She has assisted in the successful federal appeal of a claim brought against a South American government by a plaintiff who sought a $5 million reward for his purported assistance in the capture of an international fugitive. Ms. Babinski also defends a major auto manufacturer in consumer protection cases and handles general contract disputes and tort actions in the Maryland courts.

On the legislative front, Ms. Babinski regularly advises clients on federal open government and reporters’ privilege legislation. She successfully advocated for the passage of a federal libel tourism statute to protect journalists and authors who are sued abroad for defamation. Ms. Babinski has also been involved in discussions within the media industry and with federal legislators and government agencies about the future of journalism and the potential reform of copyright and hot news laws to support those who invest time and money in original reporting.

Ms. Babinski instructs broadcast and radio clients on compliance with a wide range of Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations.

Ms. Babinski serves as co-chair of the Legislative Committee of the Media Law Resource Center and frequently writes on media-related matters for publications such as the Media Law Resource Center’s Media Law Letter and The Communications Lawyer.

While earning her law degree, Ms. Babinski served as a law clerk at the Los Angeles Times. Prior to attending law school, she was a copy editor and page designer at the Inland Valley (Calif.) Daily Bulletin. Ms. Babinski served as Editor-In-Chief of Pepperdine University’s award-winning student newspaper, The Graphic. She was also a Scripps Howard Foundation Journalism Intern at the Student Press Law Center.