Ex- Associate Claims Fried Frank Didn’t Promote Her Because She Is Gay

A former litigation associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson claims in a bias complaint that the firm refused to promote her to partner because she is openly gay.

Julie Kamps filed the complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as human rights divisions in New York city and state, according to a press release and a story by the American Lawyer. She was fired after a mediation last month.

"During her decade-long tenure at the firm, there has never been more than one openly gay partner and no openly gay partners in the New York litigation department," according to the press release. The complaint claims discrimination, harassment and retaliation, including on the basis of sex and sexual orientation, the press release says.

Kamps, a Harvard law grad, claims she received outstanding performance reviews and was never given a reason why she was not promoted, according to the story.

The law firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the American Lawyer.