On Tuesday, October 30, ECBAWM filed a sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit against the law firm Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein, and Breitstone LLP and it’s Managing Partner David Heymann. As pled in the complaint, David Heymann, Meltzer Lippe’s Managing Partner, asked a female partner Laura Brancato: “What I wonder is does she spit or does she swallow?” The complaint alleges that Meltzer Lippe “is a hostile work environment for women” and that the male partners have a tradition of telling sexist “dirty jokes” at the firm’s annual golf outing and a culture of denying women professional advancement. Ms. Brancato was denied promotion to equity partner and ultimately fired for speaking up about the mistreatment and harassment, according to the complaint. “No company should tolerate the egregious sexual harassment alleged here, especially not a law firm that is supposed to uphold the law,” said ECBAWM Partner Zoe Salzman, who represents Ms. Brancato.

The case is Brancato v. Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein and Breitstone LLP et al., 24-cv-08240 (S.D.N.Y.). Read the complaint here.

Ms. Brancato is represented by ECBAWM attorneys Zoe Salzman and Hannah Brudney.

Press:
“Meltzer Lippe Allowed Widespread Sex Harassment, Suit Says,” Law360
“Long Island Midsize Firm and Managing Partner Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination,” New York Law Journal
“Ex-Meltzer Lippe Lawyer Sues Firm Claiming It’s Hostile to Women,” Bloomberg Law News
“Meltzer Lippe Faces Sexual Harassment Suit,” USA Herald