Quick Facts
Biography
Ian Heath Gershengorn (born February 21, 1967) is an American lawyer and former Acting Solicitor General of the United States.
Early life and education
Born in New York, New York, United States, and raised outside Boston, Gershengorn earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1988 and a law degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1993.
From 1993 until 1994, Gershengorn clerked for United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge Amalya Kearse. From 1994 until 1995, Gershengorn worked as a law clerk for United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.
Professional career
From 1995 until 1997, Gershengorn worked for the United States Department of Justice as a special assistant and counsel to then-United States Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick.
In 1997, Gershengorn joined the law firm of Jenner & Block, rising to the level of Partner in the firm's litigation department, working in the firm's Appellate and Supreme Court Practice and in its Communications Practice. While at the firm, Gershengorn was very active in representing Indian tribes in Supreme Court and appellate litigation.
On April 13, 2009, it was announced that Gershengorn would be rejoining the United States Department of Justice as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Division with oversight of the Federal Programs Branch. The Federal Programs Branch is handling Guantánamo Bay detainee cases and state secret matters.
In his deputy assistant attorney general position, Gershengorn was known for his work in defending legal challenges to President Obama's signature legislative achievement, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
On August 9, 2013, Gershengorn was named as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General in the United States Department of Justice's Office of the United States Solicitor General.
On June 2, 2016, it was announced that Donald Verilli was stepping down as Solicitor General and that Gershengorn would become Acting Solicitor General effective June 25, 2016.
Personal
Gershengorn's wife has worked as a lawyer for the United States Department of Justice, as have two of his sisters. His father is a cardiologist and his mother, Wendie Gershengorn, was a state court judge in Massachusetts.