Natalie Spears

Natalie Spears is a trial lawyer and trusted business advisor to major news, media, entertainment, sports and technology companies. She represents clients in high-stakes litigation across the US in a wide range of matters, including media and entertainment, consumer class actions, IP disputes, and commercial litigation. She is lauded by clients as “tenacious and pragmatic” and is recognized for her courtroom achievements. As chair of Dentons US Media and Entertainment group, co-chair of Dentons’ global Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector and a former member of the US Board, Natalie sets direction for the firm’s commitment to exceptional client service, inclusion and innovation.

Natalie offers clients advice that is creative, concise and uses common sense. She leads teams with this approach to achieve successful outcomes. She is routinely called upon to set strategy and defend litigation of commercial importance to clients and regularly defends the media in high-profile cases to protect the First Amendment rights of journalists, news organizations, studios, streamers and filmmakers to share important content with the public. Some of her recent litigation wins have been for Netflix, NBCUniversal (MSNBC), Time Studios, CBS News, ABC News, HBO, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Conde Nast. She also leads complex cases involving the intersection of technology, privacy and marketing. Her trial wins include precedent setting cases for the Chicago Cubs that paved the way for dynamic ticket sales and for the Rams NFL team over stadium contract rights in a decision awarding fees that held, “it is difficult to envision that the Rams could have obtained better representation for the arbitration.” Natalie was named by Law360 as a national ‘MVP of the year’ in Media and Entertainment Law in 2024, and in 2025, was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys.

In recent years, Natalie has served as an interim General Counsel and trusted advisor to clients in the media industry during periods of change and transformation.

Natalie strongly believes in a lawyer’s responsibility to support the legal aid community. For 20 years, she has served the National Immigrant Justice Center in various roles, including as Board Chair, fundraising Co-Chair, and Leadership Committee member. In other board leadership roles, she has served as President of the Chicago Bar Foundation, and as Board Chair and Board member of the Black Ensemble Theater.

To advance women in the profession, Natalie co-founded Dentons’ WomenLEAD program, which connects and elevates women lawyers.