Tom Clare is a partner at Clare Locke. His practice is devoted to litigating complex business disputes and vindicating clients against high-profile reputational attacks in print, broadcast, and online media outlets. Prior to founding Clare Locke LLP, Tom was an equity partner at one of the nation’s premier litigation firms. With more than 19 years experience handling high-stakes commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country, he has acted as lead counsel and lead trial counsel in each of the following areas: defamation, invasion of privacy, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, contract disputes, fraudulent conveyance actions, product liability, international arbitration, asbestos liability, Uniform Commercial Code, securities, RICO, catastrophe litigation, insurance coverage, aviation, real estate development, data privacy, government enforcement and regulatory matters, and internal leak investigations. Tom is perhaps best known, however, for representing high-profile clients who are targeted in hostile media investigations or the subject of false statements in the press. He has handled defamation matters for Fortune 500 companies and prominent individuals, including CEOs, hedge-fund managers, university presidents, professional athletes and sports teams, celebrities, journalists, military officials, and other high-profile individuals who find themselves under attack by the media or other interests intent on damaging their reputations. Tom played a central role representing Chiquita in several highly-publicized matters involving the theft of voicemail messages by a reporter at the The Cincinnati Enquirer, resulting in a prominent front-page apology, a complete retraction of the news articles relying on the stolen voicemails, and a cash settlement to Chiquita in excess of $10 million. Tom recently represented UVA Associate Dean Nicole Eramo in her defamation lawsuit against Rolling Stone magazine relating to a highly publicized article falsely alleging the cover-up of an alleged gang rape on campus. In November 2016, a jury found the defendants liable for defamation and awarded Ms. Eramo $3 million in damages. Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly included the case in its annual compilation of “Largest Verdicts” for 2016.
Floyd Abrams, Tom Clare, and George Freeman talk about the potential impact of Trump’s interaction with the media and his war on “fake news.”
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