Lynne C. Hermle

In high-stakes employment litigation, Hermle is at the epicenter of cases where technology clients wrestle with workers’ claims of harassment, discrimination and pay inequity. Her clients include industry leaders like Microsoft Corp., Twitter Inc., Apple Inc., Kleiner Perkins and Genentech Inc. She also handles retail sector clients including The Gap, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Williams Sonoma.

In one case, women at Newport Beach-based money manager Pacific Investment Management Co. LLC, known as PIMCO, sued on claims the company has a culture of bias in pay and promotions for women. Sexual harassment and retaliation allegations are also part of the mix. Collazo v. PIMCO, 30-2020-01170559 (Orange Co. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 18, 2020).

Hermle is leading the defense. In March, she filed a strong denial of the claims asserting that the company has granted the women medical leaves and “accommodated their health issues well beyond what the law requires.” The sexual claims are “salacious and unfounded” and were included “to garner media attention,” Hermle’s opposition papers contended. The pleading sought dismissal, attorney fees and costs.

In a long-running dispute, Hermle represents Winston & Strawn LLP in litigation filed by former partner Constance F. Ramos, a patent attorney with a biophysics doctorate, who claimed gender discrimination by the firm plus violation of California’s Equal Pay Act. A state appellate panel reversed a trial court’s order compelling the matter to arbitration, calling Winston’s arbitration agreement unconscionable, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied the law firm’s cert petition. Winston & Strawn LLP v. Ramos, 18-1437 (S.Ct., cert. denied Oct. 7, 2019).

The case is now set for trial. Ramos v. Superior Court, CGC-17-561025 (S.F. Super. Ct., filed Aug. 30, 2017). “I’ll be the lead,” Hermle said, naming colleagues Jessica R. Perry and Anjali P. Vadillo as members of her trial team.

“There’s an incredible backlog of trials,” Hermle noted, as courts resume business. ”Some courts are asking lawyers whether they’re open to smaller jury panels, which disadvantages the defense, Hermle said. “My answer is, ‘Hell, no.’”

— John Roemer