Fired Kirkland Associates Alleges Gender Discrimination In Federal Lawsuit
The firm denies the allegations.
The world’s richest law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, along with 5 of its current/former partners — Adam R. Alper, Michael W. DeVries, Akshay S. Deoras, Leslie M. Schmidt, and Mark D. Fahey — are named defendants in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed last week. The federal complaint, filed in the northern District of California by former Intellectual Property associate Zoya Kovalenko, alleges gender discrimination and retaliation.
As reported by Bloomberg Law, Kovalenko says her 10-month stint at the firm was mired by preferential treatment for male associates:
The discriminatory practices included overloading Kovalenko with work relative to male IP associates, the suit says. Kovalenko was also paid less than comparable male associates, forced to work during planned time off so male associates could enjoy vacations, and saw male associates praised for their performance while the efforts of herself and other female associates didn’t draw the same praise, the suit says.
The sex bias in Kirkland & Ellis’ IP litigation practice group was evidenced by the “alarmingly high turnover of female associates relative to male associates,” Kovalenko says. She is aware of at least seven female associates who left the firm during her tenure but is aware of just one male associate who did so, Kovalenko says.
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Kovalenko was reportedly in “total shock” after being fired during her first performance review at the firm. The complaint further alleges her performance reviews were “completely fabricated statements” that were defamatory and impacted her “livelihood and professional reputation.”
“Defendants’ publication was malicious, intentional, willful and done with callous disregard for the foreseeable injury and damage to plaintiff’s professional career, reputation, and livelihood and to foreseeable collateral damage to third parties who are close with plaintiff,” according to the complaint. “Defendants’ defamation of plaintiff caused and has continued to cause plaintiff severe emotional, psychological, and physical harm and injury.”
In a statement about the lawsuit, Kovalenko, who is representing herself, pointed to the importance of holding lawyers accountable:
“It is also important that individuals who hold positions of power and influence are held accountable and do not think they are above reproach,” Kovalenko said. “This is especially true for attorneys who are supposed to serve as agents of integrity and justice and relatedly to multinational law firms, such as Kirkland, that have a large impact on society.”
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Through a spokesperson the firm denied the allegations in the complaint and indicated Kovalenko’s work was “below the standards that the firm expects of its associates.”
“The allegations in question were investigated and found to be entirely without merit,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “To the contrary, the attorneys named as defendants and unfairly targeted are known for their integrity and commitment to mentorship.”
You can read the 130-page complaint here.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).
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