O’Melveny Worldwide
Areas of Focus
Areas of Focus

Caitlin E. Gernert is an accomplished litigator who represents companies in high-stakes, complex business disputes in state and federal courts and in arbitrations. She focuses her practice on energy, construction, and infrastructure litigation, including contract and warranty disputes, business torts (such as negligence, fraud/fraudulent inducement, and tortious interference), and other commercial matters. Caitlin also serves as trusted defense counsel to companies facing mass tort and product liability litigation. She brings extensive hands-on trial experience spanning every stage of litigation—from case assessment and strategy through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, and post‑trial briefing, including leading complex discovery, successfully arguing critical motions, managing expedited trial preparation, and second‑chairing trials.

  • Second-chaired a federal bench trial in a highly contentious personal injury action, presenting and cross-examining seven witnesses, including five experts, and successfully arguing key pretrial motions—and obtained a favorable result for the client.
  • Second-chaired a state-court bench trial on a breach of contract claim, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client.
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissing a corporate defendant with prejudice in an employment discrimination case in the Eastern District of Texas, and helped achieve a subsequent global settlement of all claims through mediation.
  • Led case strategy and discovery in a complex breach of contract and negligence action involving thru-bit logging operations that resulted in plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissal of action after first deposition.
  • Directed strategy and discovery in a state-court force majeure dispute against water-disposal client that resulted in a favorable settlement for the client.
  • Prepared eight summary judgment motions and extensive pretrial filings on an expedited schedule in a personal injury matter brought by a prominent plaintiffs’ firm; most of the summary judgment motions were granted, driving a favorable settlement for the client.

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Education

  • Tulane University, J.D.: cum laude; Senior Associate Editor, Tulane Law Review; James A. Wysocki Trial Advocacy Award; Cicero C. Sessions Award for Trial Advocacy
  • Southern Methodist University, B.A., Art History and Communication Studies: summa cum laude

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation” (2021–2026)
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch for Energy Law” (2024–2026)
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch for Alternative Dispute Resolution” (2026)
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch for Oil & Gas Law” (2026)
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants” (2026)

Professional Activities

Judicial Clerkships

  • The Honorable Yvette Kane, US District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • The Honorable Karoline Mehalchick, US District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania

Judicial Externship

  • The Honorable Eldon Fallon, US District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana

Internship

  • US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas