Thomas Burke

Thomas Burke

Lecturer

Continuing Lecturer

Thomas R. Burke is a Continuing Lecturer of Media Law at the Graduate School of Journalism where he has taught since 2002. He is a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in San Francisco and Co-Chair of the firm’s national media law practice.  Mr. Burke defends speech across all mediums ‰representing Internet companies; television networks; studios; book, magazine and newspaper publishers; authors; journalists; photographers; documentary filmmakers and environmental groups. With over 27 years of trial and appellate experience in California’s state and federal courts, Mr. Burke’s law practice covers the full spectrum of content liability issues including libel, privacy, right of publicity, Section 230, Digital Millennium Copyright Act, false advertising, trademark and First Amendment claims.  A veteran newsroom lawyer, Mr. Burke also provides pre-publication counseling, defends journalists facing subpoenas and regularly litigates state and federal public records lawsuits.  Mr. Burke is the author of Anti-SLAPP Litigation (The Rutter Group 2013-present) and outside counsel to Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting.