Black female associate files discrimination complaint against McDermott over alleged promotion snub
McDermott Will & Schulte was hit with a discrimination lawsuit from a Black female associate who was allegedly passed over for promotion. (Photo by Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images)
A Black female associate at McDermott Will & Schulte has accused the law firm of discrimination after allegedly being repeatedly passed over for promotion to partner.
The anonymous 38-year old associate filed the complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that “Doe remains the only known senior associate with her years and level of experience who has been refused a partner position at McDermott,” Bloomberg Law reports.
The complaint said the associate, who has 14 years of experience, was harassed and retaliated against for voicing concerns over her promotion prospects. She alleges that a partner at the firm, who had implied that Doe would be up for promotion, punished her by taking Doe off matters and prevented her from accepting assignments from other partners, according to Bloomberg Law.
The plaintiff worked in McDermott’s labor and employment group in Los Angeles starting February 2021, according to the complaint, and was terminated at an unspecified date.
McDermott did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg Law.
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