Stella Cernak

Stella Cernak is a litigation associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  

Ms. Cernak’s practice focuses primarily on white collar defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation.  Ms. Cernak has represented a range of clients—including Fortune 500 technology companies and clients in the real estate and banking/finance industries—in an array of federal and New York State cases, administrative proceedings, and federal and state regulatory investigations.  Ms. Cernak has experience managing teams and advising clients in connection with complex, high-stakes legal matters, including regulatory investigations and federal litigation involving data privacy and consumer protection issues. 

Ms. Cernak has significant discovery experience and has worked extensively with expert and fact witnesses.  Ms. Cernak also has trial experience.  She was a member of the Gibson Dunn team that successfully defended Lynn Tilton and her company Patriarch Partners against the largest individual administrative enforcement action ever brought by the SEC, in addition to a team that obtained a successful jury verdict on behalf of a Fortune 250 company in connection with civil litigation related to an alleged “Ponzi” scheme. 

Ms. Cernak maintains an active pro bono practice.  Ms. Cernak was a member of the Gibson Dunn team that drafted an amicus brief for constitutional law scholars in the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, addressing the constitutionality of the State of Mississippi’s enactment of the Gestational Age Act.  She successfully drafted a habeas petition that resulted in the release of a client from detention on bond and has helped clients obtain asylum.  Ms. Cernak has served as a firm liaison to Crisis Text Line.  Ms. Cernak served on the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music from July 2018 through July 2021.

Ms. Cernak has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as “One to Watch” (2023).

From 2022 to 2023, Ms. Cernak served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jennifer H. Rearden in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Ms. Cernak earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in December 2014 from the University of Michigan Law School.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2009.  While in law school, Ms. Cernak served on the selections committee for the Michigan Journal of Gender & Law, where she published a Note that applied international law as a method of handling intra-military gender-based crimes. 

Ms. Cernak is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the Southern District of New York.

Capabilities

• Litigation
• Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
• Appellate and Constitutional Law
• Media, Entertainment, and Technology
• Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation
• Tech and Innovation
• Trials
• White Collar Defense and Investigations

Credentials

Education:

• University of Michigan - 2014 Juris Doctor
• University of Massachusetts - 2009 Bachelor of Arts

Admissions:

• New York Bar

Clerkships:

• USDC, Southern District of New York, Hon. Jennifer H. Rearden, 2022 - 2023