Bea Bodrogi

Bea Bodrogi is an expert advisor with the Rule of Law Lab at NYU Law. 

She is a human rights lawyer, researcher, and trainer, with a primary focus on freedom of expression and media freedom. She is a member of the Hungarian Bar Association and holds an LL.M. from the London School of Economics (LSE) in human rights and anti-discrimination law.

Since 2012, her work has focused on protecting independent journalism and freedom of expression, particularly in contexts of democratic backsliding. She serves as legal counsel to leading independent media outlets in Hungary, including Telex, Direct36 Investigative Journalism Centre, and Radio Free Europe (until its closure in Hungary). Her practice combines litigation, legal counselling, and strategic advice for journalists, media organisations, and civil society actors facing legal and political pressure.

In addition to legal work, Bea conducts research and authors studies, articles, and country reports on media freedom, strategic litigation, and SLAPPs for international organisations such as Article 19 and the International Press Institute (IPI). She is a member of the European Commission’s expert group against SLAPP.

Earlier in her career, Bea litigated landmark discrimination and human rights cases before national and international forums, including the first employment discrimination case in Hungary on behalf of Romani women, a ground-breaking decision of the CEDAW Committee, and a case before the European Court of Human Rights concerning legal gender recognition. These cases form part of the human rights foundation of her work on freedom of expression and media freedom. 

Bea regularly delivers trainings on international freedom of expression standards, media law, and hate speech for judges, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations across Europe and Southeast Asia.