Dori Hanswirth co-leads Arnold & Porter's Technology, Media & Telecommunications industry group and is a litigator in the firm's Intellectual Property practice. Dori brings more than 25 years' experience for clients in a variety of industries, including media, entertainment, and technology, with a focus on defamation, reporters’ rights, copyright, trademark, and right of publicity. As one of the nation’s foremost media attorneys, Dori possesses a deep understanding of the interplay among protected speech, information gathering, and reputation protection. She serves as counsel to clients on IP issues related to training AI models, protection for content generated with the assistance of AI, and claims regarding use of intellectual property in training databases.
She also advises individual clients and organizations on issues related to reputation, brand protection, and media, copyright, and trademark in a range of other industries, including fintech, internet services, non-profits, and social media.
Experience
- Investigative journalist in defending her right to maintain the secrecy of her sources in reporting on the Batman movie theater mass shooting, leading to a landmark decision in the New York Court of Appeals.
- Global technology company in numerous trademark matters, providing enforcement strategy and counseling concerning software, hardware, advertising, and mobile/telecommunications products and services, and representation in multiple proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board pertaining to its most well-known brands.
- Planned Parenthood in securing the early dismissal in district court, and affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, of a defamation suit that arose as a result of Planned Parenthood's commentary concerning pending litigation.
- Public health researcher in defending a defamation suit targeting statements criticizing a company's scientific research and marketing, calling it "junk science." Won early dismissal in the district court and affirmance of the lower court's decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
- National news network and two of its on-air anchors in the successful defense against first-of-its-kind defamation claim based on fake news. Won summary judgment in district court; that decision was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
- Financial technology companies in branding and trademark prosecution and enforcement strategies for mobile applications, including proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- Well-known news anchor in litigation against a toy company that sold an anthropomorphic animal doll with the same name.
- Multiple journalists in advising on responses to grand jury subpoenas and other requests for testimony or documents relating to confidential or unpublished newsgathering; successfully prevented any from having to testify.
- National news organization in litigation and ultimately persuaded a Senatorial candidate to cease publication of a campaign advertisement that used television news content and branding without authorization; negotiated without need for litigation voluntary take-downs of similar advertisements with multiple other national campaigns.
- Health technology company in connection with the development and launch of an AI-powered consumer health and wellness application that consolidates and analyzes patient medical records to provide users with actionable health insights to bolster interactions with healthcare providers.
- Global automotive company in right of publicity litigation in California state court brought by a former skateboarder alleging misuse of name and likeness in vehicle marketing; obtained dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction, reinforcing limits on California’s reach over foreign defendants based on online activity.
- Global organization focused on health and environmental research and policy in trademark prosecution matters across its entire trademark portfolio.
- Software development company in defending against a trademark infringement suit, with parallel proceedings pending before the UK High Court, the Irish courts, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Consumer retail company in litigation against an online company relating to false advertising, unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, and copyright infringement from content on their social media pages and website.
- Mass media and entertainment company in defending their family of companies in a lawsuit arising from the companies’ targeting by organizations and individuals seeking to undermine the credibility and functioning of traditional news media.
- Generative AI company in right of publicity and copyright litigation brought by audiobook authors and voice actors in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
- Global News Organization in defending claims of defamation concerning an independent economic zone in Central America.
Perspectives
September 8, 2025
My Own Three Hands: AI Content Creation Tools and Copyright Registration
2025 Copyright & Technology Conference
July 30, 2025
Dori Hanswirth Comments on Supreme Court Review of Internet Provider Copyright Liability in Managing IP
Managing IP
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Recognition
Chambers USA
Media & Entertainment: First Amendment Litigation (New York) (2022-2025)
The National Law Journal
"Trailblazer"—Media & Advertising Law (2023)
"Trailblazer"—Intellectual Property (2020)
"Trailblazer"—Intellectual Property (2020)
Managing Intellectual Property
"Copyright Star" (New York) (2023-2025)
"IP Star" (New York) (2015, 2020 - 2022)
"IP Star" (New York) (2015, 2020 - 2022)
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Credentials
Education
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, cum laude
- B.A., University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, with distinction
Admissions
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
Activities
- Member, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law (2015–present)
- Member, International Trademark Association, Right of Publicity Committee (2020–present)
- Member, New York State Bar Association Committee on Media Law (2014–present)
- Member, Media Law Resource Center (1994–present)
- Member, International Trademark Association, Public and Media Relations Committee (2018–2020)
- Co-chair, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee American Bar Association (2011–2014)