Who is Stephanie Calnan? Johnny Depp lawyer is Ben Chew associate

The ongoing Depp-Heard defamation trial is continuing to push allegations, claims, and new evidence to the forefront, and the court has now heard from both parties.

It was announced in April that actor Johnny Depp would be represented by a Sports & Entertainment litigation team from the law firm Brown Rudnick.

Law associate Stephanie Calnan is part of the team representing the Hollywood star, alongside Ben Chew, who has previously worked on high-profile celebrity cases.

So, who is Stephanie Calnan? Here’s what you need to know.

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Brown Rudnick representing Johnny Depp in Depp-Heard trial

Actor Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard for defamation due to an op-ed she published in the Washington Post in 2018. He has asked for $50 million in damages, The Independent reports. Heard is countersuing Depp and has asked for $100 million in damages and immunity against his claims.

In April, it was announced that a Sports & Entertainment litigation team from high-profile law firm Brown Rudnick would represent Depp in the trial. The team includes Ben Chew, Stephanie Calnan, Andrew Crawford, Rebecca MacDowell Lecaroz, Yarelyn Mena, Jessica Meyers, Samuel Moniz and Camille Vasquez, the firm’s website states.

The trial started on 11 April and just finished its fourth week, having heard from both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory star was first to take to the witness stand, followed by Heard.

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Who is Stephanie Calnan?

Law associate Stephanie Calnan is part of the Sports & Entertainment litigation team representing Johnny Depp in the ongoing defamation trial against Amber Heard. She joined Brown Rudnick in 2016.

Calnan’s career started at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, where she served as a paralegal, after attending the Boston University School of Law. Prior, the associate interned at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, working on matters related to the new casino industry.

Notably, Stephanie Calnan has represented a private technology company in defending the breach of contract claim, and also represented a financial institution in the multimillion-dollar breach of guaranty claim.

Likewise, Calnan is actively involved in the industry outside of her day-to-day work. According to her Brown Rudnick bio, the associate serves on the Steering Committee of the Firm’s Women’s Initiative, and is involved in the philanthropic event Lawyers Have Heart 5k.

Stephanie Calnan is an associate of Ben Chew

Stephanie Calnan is working on the Depp-Heard case alongside Ben Chew, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Chew, serving as Depp’s attorney, has been pictured with the actor in court throughout the duration of the defamation trial, becoming a notable figure in the case.

The litigator has previously worked on celebrity cases, including representing the daughter of Edith Hill, which involved singer Cher.

At the time, The Washington Post published an article on the case, writing: “This is the story of how Cher — glamazon, Grammy winner and certified fairy godmother — used her magic wand (read: celebrity and bank account) to help one elderly Virginia couple fight the system.”

Chew also once represented the Government of Dubai and won a dismissal of the petition to enforce a large arbitration award in the U.S. District Court.

Shania Wilson

Shania is a Magazine Journalism graduate from the University of Derby. Her main passion is rooted in print journalism, however, she also branches out towards social media and is also interested in public relations. Outside of writing, Shania enjoys using social media, reading, and drinking coffee.