Natalie J. Spears

Natalie J. Spears is a Partner and trial lawyer, serving as Chair of Dentons US Media and Entertainment group and Co-Chair of the global Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector. She represents major news, media, entertainment, sports and technology companies in high-stakes litigation across the United States, including media and entertainment disputes, consumer class actions, IP disputes, and commercial litigation.

She defends journalists, news organizations, studios and streamers in high-profile First Amendment and defamation cases. Notable representations include serving as lead counsel for Netflix and Ava DuVernay in defending the critically acclaimed limited series When They See Us against two defamation lawsuits; for NBCUniversal, Chris Hayes and Ari Melber in obtaining dismissal of a defamation action over MSNBC news coverage; for CBS in obtaining summary judgment in the Nicholas Sandmann defamation lawsuit, affirmed on appeal; and for Dow Jones in defeating a defamation suit based on a Barron's article. She also served as lead trial counsel for the Rams NFL team in a stadium lease arbitration, resulting in a $734 million award and attorneys' fees, and represented the Chicago Cubs in a class-action trial over ticket resale claims, obtaining a complete victory affirmed on appeal. She has also successfully defended numerous putative class actions for clients including AMC Networks, Redbox, Conde Nast, Hearst and Dow Jones.

Natalie holds a J.D., cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School (1995) and a B.A., with honors and highest distinction from the University of Iowa (1992). She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Michael J. Melloy, then Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

She is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA for Media and Entertainment Litigation in Illinois (2007–present), recognised by Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation and First Amendment Litigation, and was named a Law360 "MVP of the Year" in Media and Entertainment Law (2024). She is a member of the Chicago Network and has served as President of the Chicago Bar Foundation and the Chicago Inn of Court.