Marvin S. Putnam

Marvin Putnam, a First Amendment and entertainment lawyer, is a partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP. He served as President and Chair of PEN Center USA in Los Angeles until its unification with PEN America in 2018. He was formerly a partner at the international law firm of O’Melveny & Myers, where he chaired the firm’s First Amendment Group and was a member of the Entertainment Litigation and Trial Practice Groups. A principal focus of his work is the representation of the media in defense of First Amendment rights. Putnam provides prepublication review for national news, variety, and talk show programs, as well as publications and film and television studios. He has represented film and television concerns requiring a First Amendment defense, journalists in numerous reporters’ privilege subpoena actions, and media entities seeking both court and legislative access. He has been named a “Power Lawyer” by the Hollywood Reporter and a “Super Lawyer” in a survey conducted by Law & Politics Media, Inc., as published in Los Angeles magazine. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown Law School. He joined the PEN America Board in 2018.