James Goodale - Post-New York Times Career

Post-New York Times Career

Goodale joined Debevoise & Plimpton in 1980, bringing the New York Times as a client with him. He established two practice groups, one for the representation of media companies, particularly new media companies such as cable television, the other for First Amendment and intellectual property litigation.

At Debevoise, he or his groups have represented The New York Times, the Hearst Corporation, NBC, Cablevision, the New York Observer, Paris Review, Infinity Broadcasting, the NFL, NHL, and NBA. He has personally represented George Plimpton, Harry Evans, Tina Brown, Margaret Truman, and former New York City Mayor John Lindsay.

In 2001, Debevoise & Plimpton represented the New York Times in the Supreme Court case of New York Times Co. v. Tasini. This was the fourth case Goodale represented the New York Times at the Supreme Court.

As counsel to George Plimpton, Goodale convinced Plimpton to turn The Paris Review into a foundation. Over the initial rejections of Plimpton, Goodale’s decision to make the literary magazine a non-profit foundation ensured The Paris Review would survive beyond Plimpton’s 2003 death. Plimpton had been the magazine’s editor since 1953.

Goodale also assisted in the creation of the New York Observer, which was founded by Arthur L. Carter. Goodale also arranged for Carter to purchase The Nation magazine from Victor Navasky, which was, in turn, re-purchased by Navasky.