Robert A. "Rob" Bertsche

Robert A. Bertsche is devoted to protecting and strengthening his clients’ ability to communicate their content on a wide variety of platforms, including digital, interactive, print, electronic, and social media.

A media and First Amendment lawyer with a national practice, Rob offers counseling and litigation services to media clients throughout the United States, including magazines, newspapers, book publishers, broadcasters, website operators, bloggers, filmmakers, and advertising and public relations agencies.

Rob’s media practice includes:

*Defending media clients in state and federal court against claims of libel, invasion of privacy, copyright and trademark infringement, commercial appropriation, breach of contract, and related actions.
*Conducting prepublication and pre-broadcast review for magazines, newspapers, websites, broadcasters, and advertisers
*Negotiating and drafting freelance and other media contracts
*Conducting workplace trainings to help the media stay out of court
*Prosecuting access challenges under federal and state law
*Helping clients draft and enact policies relating to social media, confidential sources, ethics, blogging, and data privacy
*Defending reporters against subpoenas seeking confidential sources or notes
*Assessing website compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements
*Designing and drafting rules for sweepstakes, contests, and other promotions

Rob’s clients range from the multinational publishing company to the solitary blogger, from the television talk-show host to the cartoonist, and from the documentary filmmaker to the community newspaper publisher. Much of Rob’s day-to-day work involves protecting his clients from litigation. A former newspaper and magazine journalist, he is dedicated to helping journalists practice their craft aggressively and responsibly, without courting undue legal risk.

He has conducted prepublication review of thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as non-fiction books on politics, business, ethics, and even cooking. He has also served as legal counsel to documentary filmmakers. Rob plays an active role in the journalism community.

As outside general counsel to the New England Newspaper and Press Association, he established and oversees an active legal hotline for the 300-plus community newspapers that are NENPA members. Since 2002, the New York-based American Society of Magazine Editors has selected Rob to provide its annual business and editorial law training for staff of print and online publications alike.