Nick Gamse concentrates his practice in First Amendment and media law, and complex civil litigation.  

Nick has extensive experience in media and entertainment matters.  He has represented leading media companies, celebrities, and journalists in disputes spanning a wide variety of issues, including antitrust, breach of contract, defamation, employment, First Amendment and freedom of speech, government investigations, intellectual property, news access and newsgathering, privacy, and theme park disputes. In addition to an active litigation practice, Nick also provides counseling to media companies and journalists to help identify and address liability issues prior to publication. Nick has been recognized as a “Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal for his work defending defamation cases and is ranked by the Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for his deep expertise with Media & Entertainment matters. He is active in the media law bar, having held leadership positions in various organizations, and co-teaches an Entertainment Law course at GW Law. Earlier in his career, Nick worked as a management consultant advising companies in the media business.

Nick also frequently litigates high-stakes matters in other industries, with a particular focus on competition and technology disputes. Since 2023, Nick has been ranked among  “Ones to Watch for Litigation: Antitrust” by Best Lawyers. He has handled matters for accounting, biopharma, consulting, energy, e-commerce, fintech, law firm, private equity and software clients.  While many of Nick’s representations are for large corporate clients, he also devotes time to counseling individuals and smaller companies, including emerging companies and startups.

Representative Experience

Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Nick’s experience includes:

  • Ongoing representation of major news organization defending defamation lawsuit brought by alternative asset company and its founder.
  • Ongoing representation of major news organization defending defamation lawsuit brought by social media company in connection with an article concerning its financing.
  • Ongoing representation of major news organization defending defamation lawsuit brought by senior government lawyer regarding coverage of her alleged retaliation against government whistleblowers.
  • Ongoing representation of major news organization defending antitrust lawsuit arising out of its alleged participation in an industry group focused on improving trust in news and addressing disinformation.
  • Ongoing representation of Fortune 100 company defending antitrust lawsuit arising out of its alleged participation in an industry group and election not to advertise on a social media platform.
  • Ongoing pro bono representation in Section 1983 lawsuit alleging viewpoint discrimination by a police department’s response to FOIA requests from its critics.
  • Ongoing pro bono representation in FOIA lawsuits seeking disclosure of information related to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Successful defense at trial of libel suit against HBO by major soccer ball company based on HBO’s report of child labor in India.
  • Successful representation of major news organization defending defamation suit brought by fraternity alumni who claimed they were defamed by an article describing the fraternity’s suspension from campus. The district court granted a motion to dismiss on multiple grounds, and Mr. Gamse successfully argued the appeal before the D.C. Circuit.
  • Successful representation of major news organizations defending four defamation suits brought by a former United States congressman and his staff member. All four of the cases have been dismissed, with three of the dismissals affirmed on appeal.  
  • Successful representation of major news organization defending defamation suit brought by the Trump Campaign. The court granted a motion to dismiss.

Education

Clerkships

Recognitions

“Ones to Watch for Litigation: Antitrust,” Best Lawyers, 2023-2025

“Media & Entertainment (D.C.),” Chambers USA, 2024-2025

“Next Generation Lawyer,” in the category of Media & Entertainment, The Legal 500, 2023-2025

"Litigation Trailblazer," The National Law Journal, 2022

Admissions

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