Tim Carter Associate

Tim Carter represents, counsels, and defends clients in state and federal consumer protection (false advertising, unfair competition, and class-action defense), privacy (right of publicity, invasion of privacy, and wiretapping), and intellectual property (IP) matters (trademark and copyright).

Tim has litigated on behalf of major media, gaming, entertainment, technology, and consumer goods clients in state and federal courts across the country, including cases involving free speech issues. He has successfully drafted and argued dispositive motions in state and federal court and has represented clients before the National Advertising Division (NAD). He has also assisted companies under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and defended clients facing claims under the Lanham Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Wiretap Act, the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and other consumer class-action matters. This experience informs Tim’s advice to clients on mitigating litigation risk and his guidance on state, federal, and local laws governing the dissemination of expressive and commercial content.

In his counseling practice, Tim advises clients on IP and advertising matters, including trademark, copyright, right of publicity, misappropriation, claim substantiation, right of privacy, endorsements and testimonials, false advertising, and FTC rules and guidelines, including the Green Guides. He has particular experience advising clients on right of publicity and misappropriation issues in connection with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. He works closely with content creators in a variety of different mediums on production-related legal matters, including content review and clearance for films, television shows, and commercials. He also counsels advertisers, advertising agencies, and production companies with respect to labor and union production issues under collective bargaining agreements, including the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract.

Tim also has negotiated IP- and advertising-focused commercial agreements and has significant experience advising music industry clients on licensing and clearing music.

Earlier in his career, Tim worked in the legal and business affairs departments at Wenner Media LLC (Rolling Stone Magazine, Us Weekly, Men’s Journal) and NBC Universal Media LLC. In these roles, he advised on defamation, IP, newsgathering, advertising, and marketing matters; was responsible for prepublication review of editorial and branded digital content; and drafted and negotiated various commercial contracts. Before he became a lawyer, Tim studied jazz performance in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tim has an active pro bono practice that includes First Amendment, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and IP-related work for freelance journalists, news organizations, and nonprofit entities.