Genie E. Harrison

The self-named plaintiff-side employment litigation firm Genie E. Harrison founded in 2013 features a nearly all-women roster and a tough attitude toward gender discrimination.

"I abhor the abuse of power," she said. "I was harassed myself when I clerked for a law firm when I was still in college. It's no surprise that my personal experience has fueled my thirst for justice. I've always been a vocal person who stands up for what she thinks is right."

So Harrison was well-place to substitute into the gender discrimination and equal pay class action that led in December 2021 to a $100 million settlement with a video game developer. McCracken v. Riot Games Inc. and Does 1 through 10, inclusive, 18STCV03957 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 6, 2018).

An earlier proposed deal would have paid out $10 million, but the plaintiffs and government agencies involved in the litigation objected, pointing to evidence of a hostile work environment and a toxic work culture for women. Harrison and colleagues came aboard.

"My Riot Games clients thought I was the right person to take on the case, and they were right," Harrison said. "My firm and I brought our usual vigor to the litigation. We got all the data, engaged the best experts and worked with the clients. Part of their problem was that they went unheard in their workplace, and I wanted to give them their power back."

Harrison said she assigned firm associate Andrea L. Fields to be the point of contact with the women of Riot Games. Fields spent over 1,000 hours hearing their stories. Next, Harrison enlisted longtime friends Joseph M. Lovretovich and Nicholas W. Sarris of JML Law APLC to work with her on the case. "Both are true feminists, and we have been friends and co-counsel for two decades," Harrison said.

A hearing on the parties' motion for preliminary approval of the settlement is set for May.

In Harrison's role as consumer advocate--she's the immediate past president of Consumer Attorneys of California--she's keeping a sharp eye on efforts by the State Bar to allow non-attorneys to form, own or exercise authority in law firms.

She has been among those sounding the alarm about the prospect of potential fee-sharing and other negative outcomes. Last year she posted an article warning that firm names like Google Law PC, Amazon Law LLC and other could be in the works.

"We have to keep an eye on them," she said of those backing such changes. I hope they're rolling back their ambitions. The State Bar can't police its licensees, and they shouldn't be spending time chasing after new people."

- John Roemer