A lawsuit filed against White & Case details a party culture run amuck at the Biglaw firm with deeply disturbing allegations.
According to a complaint filed in New York state court, a staffer at the firm alleges he was the victim of a truly grotesque violation of privacy. A firm employee says he was subjected to what the complaint calls a “humiliating and degrading” incident during a 2023 firm retreat. He alleges he was drunk, stripped naked, and photographed while unconscious by a supervisor. The filing describes the incident in stark terms, characterizing it as “intentional, malicious, and designed to demean.”
And if that were the end of the story, it would already be horrific, but there’s more in the complaint.
Instead, the plaintiff alleges the images were “retained, shared, and viewed by others within the Firm,” turning what should have been a one-off act of misconduct into an ongoing workplace injury. He claims he only learned of the photos years later, at another firm event, when coworkers allegedly referenced them in a way the complaint describes as “mocking” and “deeply distressing.”
The plaintiff, identified as “John Doe,” a Hispanic digital production specialist at the firm, says he reported the incident to White & Case’s management the same evening he learned of the images. Despite this, the complaint states that “rather than rectifying this egregious violation, White & Case has shielded the perpetrators, conducted a sham internal investigation, and retaliated against [John Doe] for speaking out.”
The complaint pulls no punches, calling firm events a “breeding ground for misconduct, sexual harassment, and the degradation of minority employees.” And takes aim at the firm itself, accusing White & Case of fostering an environment where this kind of behavior could happen and then failing to meaningfully respond.
The complaint repeatedly emphasizes the ongoing harm the plaintiff says he experienced. It describes “severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and humiliation,” tied not just to the existence of the images but to their alleged circulation inside the firm.
The continued dissemination, the lawsuit claims, “perpetuated a hostile work environment” and reinforced a culture where the plaintiff felt unsafe and unsupported.
White & Case, for its part, denies the allegations, saying, “We’re aware of this matter and while we take all such allegations seriously, these claims are baseless and we intend to defend them vigorously through the appropriate process. White & Case is committed to maintaining a professional, respectful and inclusive workplace, and we have robust policies and procedures in place to support the high standards we have for our people and our Firm.”
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 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
The post Lawsuit Alleges White & Case Parties Are A ‘Breeding Ground For Misconduct’ appeared first on Above the Law.