Hiscock & Barclay, LLP, a full service 210-attorney law firm, announced that Michael J. Grygiel has been appointed Chair of the New York State Bar Association's (NYSBA) Committee on Media Law. Mr. Grygiel was selected by NYSBA President-Elect Michael E. Getnick to chair the Committee for the next three years.
The Committee on Media Law considers all questions of public importance pertaining to First Amendment rights, including access and freedom of information, government open meetings laws, libel and privacy, reporter's privilege, advertising, fair trial/free press, and other issues.
The Committee on Media Law has actively monitored state legislation and prepared position papers on a variety of First Amendment matters affecting both the print and broadcast media in New York State. In addition, the Committee is charged with monitoring and evaluating rapidly developing technologies in the field of electronic media communications. This includes discussion of current regulatory and other legal issues, policies, and trends as news and entertainment content publication and delivery systems transition into the digital age.
Mr. Grygiel has been an active member of the Committee for many years, and has served as Program Chair for several its annual events. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the New York State Fair Trial/Free Press Conference, and serves on the Board of Advisors of the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Mr. Grygiel is Chair of the firm's Media & First Amendment Law Practice Area. His practice is concentrated on defending media clients from newsgathering and publication claims, including defamation, copyright/trademark infringement, Internet/website content and distribution, false advertising and invasion of privacy matters. He has successfully represented clients in numerous cases involving applications for access to civil and criminal courts proceedings and records, and also has extensive experience with freedom of information law cases in both federal and state courts.
Prior to joining Hiscock & Barclay, Mr. Grygiel was the director of the Arthur Levitt Public Policy Center at Hamilton College, where his teaching specialty was First Amendment and constitutional law. Mr. Grygiel was recognized by the Best Lawyers In America in the category of Media/First Amendment Law in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
"Mike Grygiel is one of the leading media law practitioners in New York State and it is gratifying to see him recognized by his peers with this appointment," said John Langan, Hiscock & Barclay's Managing Partner. "We are proud of the accomplishments of our entire media law team and congratulate Mike on having been chosen to chair this State Bar Association committee."