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New York, NY - Former Associate Says Dechert Lied in Interviews, Discriminated |
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New York, NY - A former Dechert associate has filed suit against the firm claiming it exaggerated the extent of its corporate work in order to woo him, did not provide the touted opportunities, and then fired him in part because he is an Orthodox Jew.
In his complaint--filed in New York trial court by attorney Neil Brickman--the ex-Dechert associate, Marc Lubin, says that Dechert, especially partner Malcolm Dorris, told him during interviews that he would participate in endless transactional work with major clients.
Lubin's suit says that when he decided to take the Dechert job, he spurned two other offers--including one from "an international bank"--and took a 20 percent pay cut from his $215,000 Skadden salary.
But once he started at Dechert, Lubin claims, the promised opportunities failed to materialize. The lone deal the firm was involved in at the time--over how to split up proceeds from tobacco litigation--soon collapsed, leaving Lubin to do what the suit describes as "glorified paralegal work."
Then in January 2004, Lubin says, Dorris fired him. When Lubin asked why, the complaint states, Dorris answered, "People did not like his work." When Lubin pressed for written evidence of the firm's displeasure, Dorris said there was none and added that Lubin "was different."
The complaint states that Lubin "understood this categorization to refer to his religious status as an Orthodox Jew, which required him to eat kosher food and precluded his attendance at various firm functions, including the then recent Christmas party."
Dechert declined to comment on the suit.
Lubin, who is currently unemployed, is seeking nearly $6 million in back pay, lost earnings, and punitive damages.
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Read Comments (4) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 04, 2008 at 10:40 AM Anonymous Says:
why did he leave skadden; why the pay cut
2
Oct 04, 2008 at 10:14 PM Anonymous Says:
Perhaps a less stressful job and greater corporate opportunities.
3
Oct 04, 2008 at 10:01 PM Law Student Says:
Kind of ironic, I just received an offer from Dechert for a 2009 summer associateship two days ago! Gives me something to think about...
4
Oct 10, 2008 at 01:50 PM Shmilda Says:
Actually, back in 2004, after they fired him and kicked out their T&E people, they had exactly zero frum lawyers. They took two frum 2004 summer associates, and no-offered both of them. As a result of a later merger they ended up with a few frum partners and associates. Bottom line: stay away from the legacy Dechert partners, especially the non-frum Jewish ones.