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As it appeared in Bloomberg Law
A former partner is suing New York litigation firm Moses Singer, alleging gender discrimination by way of sexual harassment, unequal pay and withheld work opportunities before being fired in retaliation.
Meghan Daneshrad claims the firm unjustly fired her in October 2023 after she requested workplace accommodations while she was pregnant, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court Thursday. She lost her pregnancy before being terminated. The lawsuit follows Daneshrad’s complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Nov. 17.
“Ms. Daneshrad is a brave and talented lawyer who deserved better than to be fired without notice after experiencing pregnancy loss,” said Shane Seppinni, Daneshrad’s lawyer, in a statement.
The complaint says the firm’s culture created a “pervasive hostile work environment.” There are only three female equity partners outside of the firm’s 40 male partners, according to the complaint. Daneshrad alleges that despite being made partner, other more junior male attorneys were being paid more than her and were also given more favorable work assignments. She is suing on behalf of herself and a collective of around 40 other current and former female Moses Singer attorneys.
After a prior maternity leave, she was given access room to “a storage room littered with junk without adequate space for a breast pump and her belongings,” according to the complaint. Daneshrad also claims a male colleague told her to “Go back to being a good mommy,” after conducting some firm business during that leave.
The complaint further alleges that senior counsel Alan Kolod disrobed in front of Daneshrad and a client during an outing on the client’s boat and reports that a senior male partner had an affair with a junior female litigator who was promoted during the affair.
Moses Singer, Kolod, and the individual defendants did not immediately return a request for comment. The firm has nearly 200 attorneys in one office in New York and a deep banking and finance practice. The firm has represented Deutshce Bank AG Singapore, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and Macy’s Backstage Inc.
Daneshrad is represented by Seppinni Law.
The case is Daneshrad v. Moses & Singer LLP et al, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:23-cv-11056, 12/21/23.
