A former Jones Day partner has filed a lawsuit against the firm in California alleging that the firm treats women as second-class citizens and provides preferential treatment to men. She alleges she was fired for speaking out against an alleged fraternity culture.
The complaint alleges that the firm used a black box compensation system which made it difficult for attorneys to discuss their pay. She also alleged that the firm used a subjective performance evaluation system that favored men, which allowed Jones Day to pay women less for the same work.
The plaintiff also alleged that despite being a partner, she was consistently paid less than male attorneys, noting that in at least one instance she was paid less than a male sixth-year associate when she was a sixth-year partner. She discovered this information only because the attorney, who joined the Trump administration, was required to include it on a federal disclosure form.
Moore’s lawsuit is another in a series of lawsuits brought against major law firms by her counsel, Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP. In January 2018, Sanford Heisler filed a gender discrimination class action against Ogletree Deakins. Sanford Heisler is also representing a former Proskauer Rose LLP attorney in a gender discrimination class action and a former attorney of Morrison & Foerster LLP who alleges the firm delays pay and advancement opportunities for female attorneys who take maternity leave or avail themselves of benefits the firm offers working mothers.
The case is Wendy Moore v. Jones Day et al., case number CGC-18-567391, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco.
