Virginia Somaweera (formerly Smith) is an associate in the Century City office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Ginny practices in the firm’s Litigation Department and in its Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice Group.

Representative matters include:

• Representation of Northrop Grumman in putative class action alleging groundwater contamination from trichloroethylene (TCE) in Missouri. Ginny argued two motions to dismiss before the trial court, which significantly narrowed the claims at issue. A favorable settlement was reached as to the remaining claims. 
• Representation of The Boeing Company against claims primarily by property owners alleging damages stemming from the November 2018 Woolsey Fire in Southern California. Obtained dismissal of claims and entry of judgment in Boeing’s favor following demurrer.
• Obtained summary judgment and an award of attorneys’ fees on a quiet title action establishing that a conservation easement protected 400 acres of undeveloped property in the Santa Monica Mountains as open space in perpetuity.
• Representation of online ecommerce company against putative false advertising class action based on alleged “greenwashing” in connection with the voluntary carbon offset market. The case is ongoing.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Ginny served as a law clerk to the Honorable James V. Selna of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Ginny earned her law degree in 2017 from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She graduated magna cum laude from the Georgetown University School with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in 2012.

Before entering law school, Ginny taught middle school English language arts in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a Teach For America corps member.

Ginny is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice law before the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.