With an understanding that the pain of losing is greater than the joy of winning, Greg Chernack finds the law a challenge while working to assist his clients. From the academic pursuit behind real people with real problems, to fulfilling pro bono work helping others recover their lives, Greg embraces the challenge of solving his clients’ legal issues as if they were his own. Smart and intellectually driven, many also would describe him as bringing a light sense of humor and a bit of amusement to his client relationships.

With 20 years of practice focused on trial and appellate litigation involving complex legal issues, Greg has a broad range of litigation experience in state and federal courts across the country. Having appeared as counsel of record in cases brought in states including Missouri, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Oregon, Ohio, Alabama, and North Carolina, he has also worked on international matters in Ecuador and Mexico. Greg has worked with numerous expert and company witnesses in preparation for trial and developed a number of successful defenses to various lawsuits around the country. This work has included the representation of pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers in defending numerous products liability lawsuits.

Of note, Greg has represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at numerous trials and has successfully argued a motion for a direct verdict and won a case on its behalf before the Sixth Circuit. Greg also represented DynCorp International in a lawsuit brought against it by thousands of Ecuadoreans alleging personal injuries and property damage in connection with counternarcotics aerial herbicide spraying operations in Colombia. That case ultimately went to trial with six test plaintiffs and resulted in a complete defense verdict.

In addition to his work involving products liability cases, Greg has worked on several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court involving issues ranging from patent law to immigration regulations, handled numerous other complex civil litigation matters, including creditor protection in bankruptcy proceedings, advised clients regarding regulatory compliance issues, and has handled several criminal matters pro bono. As part of his pro bono work, he represented the first person to be released from prison pursuant to D.C.’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act.

Prior to working at Hollingsworth LLP and WilmerHale, Greg served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ralph K. Winter, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and to the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He was an Articles Editor of the Yale Law Journal and has served for the past two years as a judge for The George Washington University Law School’s Van Vleck Moot Court Competition.

Education

Yale Law School (J.D., 1998) Oxford University (B.A., 1995, with honors; M.A., 2000) Harvard University (B.A., 1993, magna cum laude)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits
  • United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, Eastern District of Michigan, and District of New Jersey

Memberships

  • Town Council of Section 5 of Chevy Chase, Maryland
    • Member, 2017 – Present
    • Chair, 2019 – Present
  • George Washington University Law School, Professorial Lecturer, 2014 – 2017
  • C. Public Library Foundation, President of the Board
    • Member, 2002 – 2013
    • President, 2009 – 2013

Cases

Insights & Events

On June 14, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana granted Monsanto’s motion for partial summary judgment in Whalen v. Monsanto. The court agreed with Monsanto that all of plaintiffs’ claims (other…