Female attorneys sue law firm over ‘fraternity’ atmosphere, allege bias against women

Six female attorneys filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against international law firm Jones Day, claiming that the firm “operates as a fraternity” and discriminates against women with lower pay and fewer career opportunities.

The 107-page complaint, filed in D.C. federal court, alleges that prominent male lawyers gave young male associates at the firm preferential assignments, introduced them to important clients and would “groom them” at the firm “even when their legal skills are notably deficient.”

{mosads}“Jones Days’s fraternity culture presents female attorneys at Jones Day with an unpalatable choice: participate in a culture that is at best inhospitable to women and at worst openly misogynistic or forego any hope of success at the Firm,” the lawsuit states.

Jones Day is one of the world’s largest international business and litigation firms that employs nearly 250 attorneys in Washington, D.C. The firm represents President Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign and worked previously on his 2016 campaign.

The plaintiffs allege in Wednesday’s complaint that the firm posed a “hostile work environment” and claimed they received inadequate work and mentorship, were denied promotions or were forced out of the firm if they challenged leadership. Plaintiffs also claimed in the complaint that the firm’s “black box” system — in which coworkers are not allowed to know each other’s salaries — leads to the “systematic underpayment of women.”

The women at the firm also claimed they faced sexual harassment and misconduct while at the firm.  

“During a limo ride to a summer associate event, male attorneys from the office initiated a game of ‘Fuck, Marry, Kill’ in which they named coworkers from the office and proposed to whom they would do each of these things,” the complaint alleges.

Another alleged incident involved a female summer associate being pushed into a swimming pool while wearing a white dress while the man who pushed her applauded and was high-fived by the firm’s leadership.

The complaint claims the women often faced sexist and sexualized comments such as being referred to as “eye candy” or being told they should “smile more.”

Jones Day also allegedly discriminated against pregnant women who took maternity leave. The suit also claims, however, that one of the plaintiffs was criticized for not having a family because she would not be as relatable to clients.

The lawsuit named two plaintiffs, Nilab Rahyar Tolton and Andrea Mazingo, who both previously worked at the law firm’s California office. Four additional plaintiffs are only referenced by the moniker “Jane Doe.”

Tolton told Washingtonian magazine that while it is undesirable to sue your former boss, the lawsuit is about “people who want to stand up for what is right and what is long overdue.”

One of its attorneys, Donald McGahn, joined the administration as White House counsel before recently rejoining the firm last month.

The plaintiffs told the magazine that there is “no political motivation” for their lawsuit.

“I’m concerned about the lack of advancement opportunities for women, and the pay discrimination,” says Mazingo.

The Hill has reached out to Jones Day for comment.