Pernell assists the general counsel with identifying and protecting MDRC from undue risks in its corporate operations and policy research. He plays an active role in counseling project teams as legal adviser and in creating, reviewing, and negotiating agreements that span a wide range of legal subject areas. Pernell was a federal clerk and litigator at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before joining MDRC. He graduated from Duke University and earned his graduate degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education before teaching in public schools for several years. Pernell earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law, where he now serves as Adjunct Professor of Law, and has published articles in legal journals on topics concerning race, education, and the law.
