Alia L. Smith

Of Counsel She / Her / Hers
Washington, DC

Alia L. Smith’s practice focuses on defending publishers and broadcasters against claims of defamation and other newsgathering torts, and representing them in litigation over access, the Freedom Of Information Act, subpoenas and copyrights. In addition, she provides counseling and prepublication advice to a number of the firm’s clients, from national publications, to regional broadcasters, to start-up websites. In addition, Alia speaks regularly on media law topics to journalists and students.

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

Experience 

Representative Matters

  • Represented a Better Business Bureau affiliate in defamation lawsuit brought by service provider. The Georgia Superior Court granted the BBB’s anti-SLAPP motion, emphasizing that the anti-SLAPP law “is meant to be a significant tool to root out non-meritorious cases aimed at speech at the outset.”
  • Represented The E.W. Scripps Company in FOIL litigation against the NYPD, leading to the release of data about how the department compiles crime statistics and clearance rates. The resulting reporting by Scripps prompted the Mayor’s Office to change its public crime reporting system to be more accurate and transparent.
  • Represented Berlitz Languages, Inc. in defamation litigation brought by former student and government official. The D.C. Superior Court granted Berlitz’s Anti-SLAPP motion pursuant to the common interest privilege.

Professional Highlights

Judicial Clerkship

Hon. David A. Ezra of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii

Professional Activities

ABA Forum on Communications Law

ABA Women in Communications Law Committee

District of Columbia Bar Association, Media Law Committee

New York City Bar Association, Communications and Media Law Committee, past Secretary

Speaking Engagements

"Hot Topics in Media Law," Media Fest '22, October 27, 2022

"How To: Not Get Sued," News Leaders Association Conference, October 7, 2021

"Copyrights and Wrongs," National Press Club’s Journalism Institute, March 31, 2021

Publications

“Where Can a Lawsuit Be Brought Against You for Information Posted to Your Web Site, Blog, or Social Media Page?” Internet Publishing: Perils and Practices, 2013

“Rule 24(b): Broadening the Use of Permissive Intervention to Challenge Confidentiality Orders,” 67 George Washington Law Review 852, 1999

Credentials 

Education

George Washington University Law School (J.D. 2000, with high honors)
Senior Projects Editor, The George Washington Law Review

Order of the Coif

Moot Court Board

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A. Journalism 1996)

Admissions

New York

District of Columbia

Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York