Cynthia Chen McTernan is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  She is a member of the Firm’s Litigation, Class Actions, and Labor & Employment Practice Groups.  Ms. McTernan has represented clients in a wide range of complex litigation and has significant experience in all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts.  Ms. McTernan was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 and 2023 “Ones to Watch” in Commercial Litigation.

Select Representative Matters

• Defended a major software and hardware technology company in multidistrict class action litigation relating to consumer fraud claims, resulting in a favorable nationwide class settlement.
• Represented multiple major universities in class and mass action litigation relating to alleged misconduct by university employees.
• Represented multiple employers, including leading online retailers and entertainment and technology companies, in securing favorable resolutions of class, mass, and individual actions alleging gender and race discrimination.
• Secured dismissal of misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of confidentiality claims seeking over a billion dollars in damages against multinational financial institution in the Southern District of New York.
• Successfully defended a global asset management firm against securities fraud claims, resulting in reversal of a denial of motion for summary judgment.
• Secured dismissal of claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act against a leading financial services company in putative class action.

Select Pro Bono Matters

• Represent victims of anti-Asian hate crime in coordination with the Alliance for Asian-American Justice.
• Obtained favorable settlement with Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services for increased adoption benefits on behalf of nine-year-old child and her family.
• Secured dismissal with prejudice of unlawful detainer case against elderly defendant.
• Obtained child custody award for client pending resolution of a divorce proceeding.
• Successfully obtained asylum for female Pakistani journalist.

Ms. McTernan serves on the Board of Directors for Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, which provides comprehensive care and support to those impacted by cancer, with a focus on under-resourced communities.

Ms. McTernan received her Juris Doctor in 2013 from Harvard Law School, where she was an editor on the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law.  She graduated summa cum laude from Duke University in 2010, where she received a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction in English and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.  Ms. McTernan is admitted to practice in the States of New York and California.