2 women attorney plaintiffs in MoFo discrimination suit named

Sherry A. William and Joshua A. Klayman have been identified as the women suing Morrison & Foerster LLP, alleging discriminatory practices against new mothers in a pending class action in the Northern District of California.

Women attorneys at MoFo who become pregnant or have children are denied opportunities for advancement and higher pay, the lawsuit alleges. Jane Doe 1 et al. v. Morrison & Foerster LLP 3:18-CV-02542 (N.D. Cal., filed April 30, 2018).

In court filings, MoFo vigorously defended its workplace environment for new mothers and denied all the allegations. The firm stated it was committed to the equal treatment of all employees and to the advancement of women.

William and Klayman seek at least $50 million in back pay and another $50 million for nominal, liquidated and compensatory damages.

All plaintiffs are represented by Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP, which has filed discrimination lawsuits against several major law firms.

MoFo is represented by partners Michele L. Maryott, Rachel S. Brass and Catherine A. Conway of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco is overseeing the matter.

Plaintiffs’ counsel issued a statement Tuesday, affirming Klayman and William withdrew their motions to proceed with the action under pseudonyms.

“Ms. William and Ms. Klayman are committed to vigorously prosecuting their individual and class claims of gender discrimination and maternity discrimination against Morrison & Foerster,” the statement read.

William remains employed in MoFo’s Los Angeles office as a senior associate and part of the firm’s finance and projects group. Her practice focuses on clean technology and renewable energy. William also advises clients on sale, acquisition and financing of renewable energy projects and is chair of the Working Parents Affinity Group at MoFo.

Klayman, a notable heavyweight cryptocurrency and blockchain lawyer, joined Linklaters LLP in July. She is based in New York and heads the firm’s U.S. financial technology and blockchain and digital assets groups.

Prior to joining Linklaters, Klayman founded a boutique, Klayman LLC, that specialized in blockchain legal work and had a consulting firm, Point Blockchain Advisors LLC, that focused on blockchain strategy.

Klayman founded MoFo’s blockchain and smart contracts group before her departure in 2018.

Last month, five of the seven women attorneys who sued MoFo reached a settlement. Their identifies have not been revealed.