Christina Hernsdorf

Christina Hernsdorf is an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Media and Entertainment Litigation Practice. Her practice concentrates on First Amendment and media law, including litigation related to free speech, newsgathering, and government transparency.

Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Christina served as a supervising attorney in the Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic, where she litigated matters concerning free speech, civic participation, and government transparency in state and federal courts at all stages of litigation. Her experience includes briefing and arguing a First Amendment challenge before the New York Court of Appeals, challenging a gag order restricting a criminal defendant’s social media use, and bringing First Amendment challenges to unconstitutional state laws and government actions. Christina also defended against several libel suits in appeals involving New York’s anti-SLAPP law and negotiated reversals of local government conduct and policies restricting protected speech. During her time at the clinic, Christina also secured access to public records and conducted pre-publication review for journalist clients.

Through her prior work at two global law firms, Christina’s experience also extends to securities litigation, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense at both the state and federal levels.

Christina maintains a pro bono practice dedicated to First Amendment and veterans’ issues.

Concentrations

• Media and Entertainment Litigation

• Defense of Defamation Actions

• Complex Commercial Litigation

• Pre-Publication Review

Experience

Representative Matters

• Defended journalist, activist, and musician clients from defamation and related claims in New York trial and appellate courts.°

• Defended citizen journalist in defamation action at trial court and appellate levels, obtaining dismissal and attorneys’ fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law at the trial court and reaching favorable settlement prior to oral argument on appeal.°

• Defended university history professor in defamation and conspiracy suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, obtaining dismissal on personal jurisdiction grounds and for failure to state a claim.°

• Argued before New York Court of Appeals in First Amendment challenge to parole condition.°

• Represented animal rights activist in challenge to gag order banning activist from social media use during pendency of criminal trial.°

• Negotiated reinstatement of two individuals to city citizen advisory board following their removal for First Amendment-protected speech.°

• Negotiated reversal of civil fines imposed on client targeted for selective enforcement of city’s graffiti ordinance based on content of stickers client posted in public locations.°

• Represented investor in expedited challenge to investor’s decision to terminate tender offer for stock of co working office space and real estate company in the Delaware Court of Chancery, resulting in settlement two weeks before trial.°

• Represented public utility company in investigations by California Public Utilities Commission and related proceedings concerning California wildfires.°

• Represented senior executive of public company in accounting fraud investigation by Department of Justice and Securities Exchange Commission.°

• Represented automotive parts supplier in government investigations and civil litigation relating to automotive emissions regulations.° °The above representations were handled by Ms. Hernsdorf prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP