Matthew Kelley

Practice Areas

Matthew E. Kelley advises and represents media companies, journalists, filmmakers, bloggers, and other content creators in a wide range of legal issues. His experience in state and federal courts across the country includes defending clients against defamation, privacy, and copyright claims; litigating Freedom of Information Act and other access matters; challenging subpoenas for privileged information; and other issues implicating First Amendment rights. Matt also counsels clients on legal issues involving newsgathering and intellectual property.

Before beginning his legal career, Matt was an award-winning investigative reporter for the Associated Press and USA Today. As a journalist, he covered a variety of issues and institutions, including Congress, the Pentagon, and national politics.

Matt previously was with the highly regarded First Amendment boutique law firm Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, which merged with Ballard Spahr in October 2017.

Career

Admissions: Arizona, Virginia, District of Columbia

Professional Memberships

ABA Forum on Communications Law, Native American Journalists Association, UNITY: Journalists of Color, past Secretary

Personal

George Washington University Law School (J.D. 2012, with high honors)

Articles Editor, The George Washington Law Review

Order of the Coif

Kent State University (B.A. Journalism 1991, summa cum laude)

Editor, Daily Kent Stater