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Meryl Conant Governski focuses on high-risk, high-profile commercial litigation with extensive experience serving on trial teams in federal and state courts in cases involving defamation, privacy-related torts, and other matters implicating the First Amendment, as well as breach of contract and an assortment of complex legal claims. Governski possesses a unique combination of substantive expertise coupled with significant trial experience. Her practice often lands Governski on both sides of the “v” — she has defended media organizations against claims of defamation while also having represented victims of disinformation in their pursuit of truth and accountability. In addition to providing litigation support, Governski regularly conducts pre-screening reviews to counsel clients about the risk of publication.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2027 | Commercial Litigation, Defamation, Privacy |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation | 2026 | First Amendment and Media & Entertainment Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation | 2025 | First Amendment and Media & Entertainment Litigation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation | 2024 | First Amendment and Media & Entertainment Litigation |
Governski's high-profile matters include the representation of Blake Lively in her lawsuit against Hollywood director Justin Baldoni and other defendants in connection with claims of sexual harassment during the filming of "It Ends With Us” and subsequent retaliation against Ms. Lively for reporting the on-set misconduct. Governski contributed to winning the dismissal of Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Governski is currently serving as lead counsel for multiple media organizations, including Warner Bros. Discovery, in South Carolina against defamation claims asserted by Buster Murdaugh in connection with multiple documentary films, and she conceived of and executed a successful effort to sever and remove the case from state to federal court. Governski has served an integral role in multiple multi-week trial successes, including achieving a complete defense victory for Uber Technologies in a $750 million dispute after being retained just six weeks before trial and representing Oracle Corporation in multiple high-stakes intellectual property and contract matters as part of a trial team that secured a $50 million verdict. In December 2023, Governski secured a landmark $148.1 million jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of Fulton County, Georgia, election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea' ArShaye ("Shaye") Moss in their defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani. In subsequent enforcement proceedings, Governski skillfully cross-examined Mr. Giuliani in connection with a motion to hold him in contempt of court, and the parties settled shortly thereafter. Governski’s diverse portfolio also includes challenging an unlawful bid solicitation in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and representing a congressional candidate on financial disclosure compliance and electronic ballot marking device issues in primary elections.