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Memphis attorneys Lucian Pera and Ben Fox are representing The Marshall Project, an independent nonprofit news outlet that covers the criminal justice system, in its filing of a lawsuit under the Tennessee Public Records Act. 

Pera and Fox, with lawyers for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, argued that the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, a nonprofit organization whose board includes the mayor, the district attorney and other public officials, is the “functional equivalent” of a government agency and thus subject to public disclosure laws.

Read more about the suit.

At Adams and Reese, Pera focuses on legal ethics work, media law, and commercial litigation. He is one of the nation’s leading legal ethics practitioners. For more than 30 years, he has represented lawyers, law firms, clients, and those who do business with lawyers and law firms, on the widest possible array of issues relating to legal ethics and the regulation of lawyers. His practice is national in scope.

Since the earliest days of his practice, Pera has also represented media outlets in matters ranging from claims for defamation or invasion of privacy to access to courtrooms, public records, and meetings of government bodies. His wide-ranging civil litigation practice includes a variety of commercial, personal injury, and intellectual property litigation, as well as numerous state and federal appeals.

Fox advises clients in general civil litigation involving commercial disputes, employment issues, and personal injury and property damage claims. He also provides counsel to clients with employment matters. In his legal ethics practice, he represents and advises attorneys, law firms and businesses with disciplinary issues and investigations, in administrative proceedings, and with other ethics and professionalism issues. He also serves on the firm’s Ethics Committee.

Fox advises media outlets in a variety of matters, including claims and lawsuits for defamation or invasion of privacy as well as getting access to courtrooms, public records and meetings of government bodies. He also represents and advises charter schools and other organizations that support and advocate for choice in public education.