Aaron M. Saykin

Aaron is the leader of the firm's Media & First Amendment Practice Area, helping clients navigate issues such defamation, licensing, press relations, and related issues including New York’s Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law. He draws from a wealth of media experience, having spent 13 years as an investigative television reporter in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Wilmington, North Carolina, before becoming a lawyer.

As part of his growing media law practice, Aaron has helped numerous businesses and individual clients with reputational defense matters, including responding to false and defamatory comments in online interviews, posts and publications. He advises media clients with pre-publication reviews of articles and videos, and assists them in responding to subpoenas for their materials. Aaron also regularly helps clients respond to press inquiries, particularly for sensitive issues.

Aaron also has extensive experience assisting clients with complex commercial matters and disputes. He has represented private and public sector clients engaged in some of the region’s most significant construction disputes, state-permitted energy projects, and False Claims Act cases. He represents both developers and host communities as their trusted counsel.

In 2021, Aaron obtained a jury verdict in excess of $1 million for his client in a commercial dispute—even though his client was the defendant in that case. The jury rejected the plaintiff’s claims and instead found in favor of his client’s counterclaim.