Benjamin L. Zelenko, Senior Counsel

Mr. Zelenko practices in the areas of copyright, defamation, corporate and labor law, and federal legislative and regulatory matters.  He has represented clients in arbitration proceedings as well as federal and state court litigation.  Most recently, he provided counseling, advice, and legislative representation to the London Insurance Market with respect to legislation designed to reform asbestos claims litigation. Mr. Zelenko is a respected counselor and advisor in government relations and has represented the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and the Screen Actors Guild with respect to federal regulatory and legislative matters.

Mr. Zelenko represents authors in the negotiation of publishing contracts, litigation, and defamation counseling. He also represents groups of authors, composers, and athletes through his representation of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the National Football League Players Association. Civil rights has been another area in which Mr. Zelenko has been an active participant. In that connection, he represented Japanese-Americans in the Supreme Court seeking reparations for constitutional deprivations during World War II.

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Federal Judicial Center Foundation Board
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Foundation, Advisory Board
• American Bar Association Special Committee on Coordination of Federal Judicial Improvements, Chairman (former)
• Department of Justice Task Force on Organized Crime, Member (former)
• American Bar Association

Past Professional Experience

• General Counsel, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives (1967-1971)
• Federal Communications Commission, Office of Network Study