Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is pleased to announce the formalization of its Defamation & First Amendment Practice, a dedicated group focused on protecting and defending names, brands, and reputations in today’s fast-moving and highly scrutinized environment. The team provides litigation and advisory services nationwide, addressing the often-complex balance between freedom of speech and protection from reputational harm.
The team represents both individuals and businesses in defamation actions, whether defending against allegations or pursuing claims for false and damaging statements, from demand letters through trial and appeal. They also advise on First Amendment and free speech litigation, including pre-publication reviews and disputes involving media rights, AI-generated speech, and reputational harm.
In the employment context, the practice counsels employers navigating workplace defamation, post-termination disputes, social media allegations, internal investigations, and whistleblower claims. The team also has extensive experience in online reputation and crisis management, working closely with digital forensics and crisis response partners to mitigate reputational damage and manage high-stakes public narratives.
Beyond litigation, the group protects brands and content through enforcement against false advertising, unfair competition, and misuse of intellectual property across digital platforms. They also advise on privacy, publicity, and name/image/likeness (NIL) matters, addressing compliance issues and disputes related to privacy violations, misappropriation of likeness, and NIL enforcement.
The practice is led by Joe Meadows, a former DOJ trial attorney and GRSM litigation partner. Meadows focuses on defamation as well as business disputes, IP litigation, and privacy matters. He is the current author of The Law of Defamation in Virginia (Fifth Edition) and has been featured as a defamation litigator in articles and on TV and radio shows.
Through this dedicated practice, GRSM combines deep trial experience, crisis management expertise, and a nationwide platform to deliver comprehensive counsel to clients navigating the complex challenges of free speech, reputation, and brand protection.