Marlia Saunders
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024
Band 3 : TMT: Media
Band 3
About
Provided by Marlia Saunders
Practice Areas
Marlia is an experienced media/entertainment, intellectual property and privacy lawyer who has extensive top-tier law firm expertise and a unique client perspective after working as a senior in-house lawyer. She has practised as a media lawyer for 18 years.
Marlia is recognised throughout the media and communication law industry as a technical expert and a skilful litigator, with an extensive knowledge of the law and an understanding of the issues faced by media clients. She is respected for the commercial outlook she brings to engaging with clients and addressing their needs.
Marlia specialises in defamation, contempt of court, suppression orders, freedom of information and court access applications, confidential information claims, prepublication advice, copyright, consumer law and privacy matters. She has acted in a large number of high profile media and intellectual property disputes; advised on sponsorship, production and licensing deals; and given prepublication advice in relation to newspaper and online articles, television programs, podcasts and marketing/advertising materials.
Marlia has been heavily involved in law reform affecting the media, including on behalf of the Australia's Right to Know coalition, the Law Council of Australia and the Alliance for Journalists' Freedom. She is regularly sought out for expert commentary on issues affecting the media and the public’s right to know and speaks at legal industry events.
Career
Marlia joined Thomson Geer as a Partner in the Media team in September 2021.
Marlia was previously the Senior Litigation Counsel at News Corp Australia for four years, and before that worked at Ashurst for 13 years where she acted for and advised most of Australia’s major media organisations, social media and streaming platforms, search engines, large corporates and government bodies.
Professional Memberships
Marlia is a board member of the Communications and Media Law Association and is a member of the Law Council of Australia's Media and Communications Committee. She is a member of the NSW Law Society.
Chambers Review
Asia-Pacific
Marlia Saunders is a sought-after media lawyer based in Sydney. She is experienced in handling defamation cases, non-publication and suppression orders and in providing pre-publication advice.
Contributions
Latest contributions provided by Marlia Saunders
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Marlia is a very good tech lawyer and has an in-depth understanding of relevant laws and procedures in the area. She is very skilled in understanding and applying new defamation laws."
"An excellent all-round service."
"She is an extremely skilled practitioner, both in knowledge and technical expertise."
"Marlia is positioning herself as one of Sydney's top media litigators. She acts for media companies in a range of matters and has a meticulous approach to her matters."
"Marlia is a very good tech lawyer and has an in-depth understanding of relevant laws and procedures in the area. She is very skilled in understanding and applying new defamation laws."
"An excellent all-round service."
"She is an extremely skilled practitioner, both in knowledge and technical expertise."
"Marlia is positioning herself as one of Sydney's top media litigators. She acts for media companies in a range of matters and has a meticulous approach to her matters."
Articles, highlights and press releases
6 items provided by Thomson Geer
Acting for The Australian newspaper in successfully striking out defamation claim in landmark "serious harm" ruling.
New privacy laws introduced to Parliament - key items to consider
After consultation, and several years of inquiries, reviews and reports, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Cth) was introduced to Parliament on 12 September 2024. You can find the Bill and Explanatory Memorandum here.
Defamation law changes take effect in NSW and ACT
On 1 July 2024, changes relating to digital intermediary liability and absolute privilege came into effect in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory's defamation laws.
Serious harm in concerns notices enters its State of Origin era
In a recent decision in relation to the concerns notice regime for defamation complaints, the Queensland District Court has departed from the approach previously taken by its New South Wales counterpart.
First test of defamation public interest defence – where to from here for the media?
The first decision applying the new public interest defence to defamation, introduced under s 29A of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) in July 2021, has now been handed down in the Federal Court.
Ben Roberts-Smith: A cautionary tale for would-be defamation applicants and a victory for the truth
After the biggest and most expensive defamation trial in Australian history, a judge has found media reports that the country's most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes, assault and acts of bullying in Afghanistan were substantially true.
Acting for The Australian newspaper in successfully striking out defamation claim in landmark "serious harm" ruling.
New privacy laws introduced to Parliament - key items to consider
After consultation, and several years of inquiries, reviews and reports, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Cth) was introduced to Parliament on 12 September 2024. You can find the Bill and Explanatory Memorandum here.
Defamation law changes take effect in NSW and ACT
On 1 July 2024, changes relating to digital intermediary liability and absolute privilege came into effect in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory's defamation laws.
Serious harm in concerns notices enters its State of Origin era
In a recent decision in relation to the concerns notice regime for defamation complaints, the Queensland District Court has departed from the approach previously taken by its New South Wales counterpart.
First test of defamation public interest defence – where to from here for the media?
The first decision applying the new public interest defence to defamation, introduced under s 29A of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) in July 2021, has now been handed down in the Federal Court.
Ben Roberts-Smith: A cautionary tale for would-be defamation applicants and a victory for the truth
After the biggest and most expensive defamation trial in Australian history, a judge has found media reports that the country's most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes, assault and acts of bullying in Afghanistan were substantially true.
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