Al-Amyn Sumar Appointed to American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Gavel Awards

Ballard Spahr media law litigator Al-Amyn Sumar has been appointed to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Gavel Awards for a three-year term.

The Standing Committee selects the winners of the ABA’s annual Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts, which recognize outstanding works—such as books, literature, television, newspapers, and radio—that foster the public’s understanding of the law and the legal system.

Mr. Sumar, based in Ballard Spahr’s Washington, D.C. office, represents news organizations and other media clients in defamation, privacy, copyright, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters. He has also represented clients seeking access to court records and proceedings and state public records.

From 2018-2019, Mr. Sumar worked at The New York Times Company, where he served as a First Amendment Fellow. In this role, he managed the company’s FOIA docket, litigated libel cases and access motions, reviewed stories prior to publication, and advised reporters and editors on a range of legal issues.