Elizabeth Seidlin-Bernstein's practice focuses on First Amendment, defamation, privacy, and intellectual property litigation and counseling. Lizzie has appeared on behalf of media and entertainment clients in state and federal courts around the country. She regularly handles prepublication and clearance review for news organizations, entertainment companies, book publishers, nonprofits, and other content creators. She also has experience representing journalists in seeking access to public records and court proceedings and in responding to subpoenas that would require the disclosure of privileged information and materials. In addition, Lizzie advises universities on issues related to freedom of expression.
Before beginning her legal career, Lizzie worked at The New Press, where she edited books on politics, policy, and culture.
Lizzie previously was with the highly regarded First Amendment boutique law firm Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, which merged with Ballard Spahr in October 2017.
Representative Experience
Representative Matters
- Defended a leading business magazine against defamation claims arising from an article about an energy company selling risky high-yield bonds to retirees. A Delaware federal court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim, concluding that the alleged implication of a Ponzi scheme was unreasonable.
- Defended a television news network against a defamation claim arising from an online report about an arrest. The Third Circuit held that the claim was barred by Pennsylvania's one-year statute of limitations, clarifying the application of the single-publication rule to internet publications.
- Represented a coalition of news organizations in obtaining access to a redacted version of the affidavit of probable cause in the search of President Donald J. Trump's home at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Professional Highlights
Judicial Clerkships
Hon. Berle M. Schiller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment Litigation, 2023-2026 (Philadelphia); Media Law, 2025-2026 (Philadelphia)
Named to Philadelphia Business Journal's 2019 "40 Under 40" list, in recognition of professional excellence and outstanding community involvement
Speaking Engagements
"Copyright and Fair Use," Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Legal Lab, March 26, 2026
"Digital Defamation," Pennsylvania Courts Judicial Education Program, October 9, 2025
"Right of Publicity and Privacy Boutique," Media Law Resource Center 2025 Conference, September 16, 2025
Publications
Co-author, "Survey of Pennsylvania Privacy and Related Claims Against the Media," MLRC Media Privacy & Related Law 2025-2026 50-State Survey
Co-author, "Survey of Virgin Islands Libel Law," MLRC Media Libel Law 2025-2026 50-State Survey
"New Jersey Court Rejects Discrimination Claims Based on Newspaper Columns," MLRC MediaLawLetter, September 2023
Credentials
Education
New York University School of Law (J.D. 2009)
Executive Editor, New York University Law Review
Robert McKay Scholar
Dean’s Award
Deborah Rachel Linfield Fellowship in Freedom of the Press
Brown University (B.A. 2003, magna cum laude)
Managing Editor, The College Hill Independent
Head Writing and Rhetoric Fellow
Languages
Spanish
French
Admissions
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey
U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit