Bloomberg Law Reports on Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

November 13, 2023 – Bloomberg Law reports that former Polsinelli PC attorney Julia Rix urged a federal judge to allow her sexual harassment suit against the law firm to proceed.

Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors represents Rix. According to an opposition filing by Rix in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the dismissal motion by the firm and alleged harasser Gabriel Dabiri is a “desperate bid” to avoid “public scrutiny” of her claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, and an effort to avoid local human rights laws.

The firm and Dabiri “will be forced to contend with the misconduct alleged and their failure to investigate it properly,” William A. Brewer III, Rix’s attorney, added in a statement. “Rix believes the record—replete with late night overtures and sexual advances, followed by blatantly retaliatory actions—speaks for itself.”

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Brewer Firm Featured in Law 360 Profile

November 2, 2023 – Brewer partner William A. Brewer III was part of a “meet the attorneys” profile in Law 360. The article comments on Brewer and senior associates Will Brewer IV and Samantha Daniels, all representing client Julia Rix in her lawsuit against the Polsinelli law firm and two firm partners. The profile explores background information about the Brewer firm, its compensation structure, and work in the philanthropic arena.

With respect to the Rix matter, the article says, “Julia I. Rix sued Polsinelli in September, alleging two older, married senior partners ‘insisted on late-night rendezvous, communicated their sexual interest in her and forced unwanted physical intimacy. An international corporate attorney, she says she was fired without cause after reporting the alleged misconduct to the head of human resources.”

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National Law Journal, Others Report on Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

September 21, 2023 – The National Law Journal (NLJ) reports on a lawsuit from Brewer client Julia Rix against Polsinelli law firm. The lawsuit alleges that Rix was “sexually harassed by two senior firm shareholders and that when she reported the misconduct, Polsinelli ‘retaliated’ by terminating her employment,” according to the NLJ.

As reported, “The plaintiff, Julia Rix, claims that she was ‘repeatedly hounded’ by the two shareholders who ‘insisted on late-night rendezvous, communicated their sexual interest in her, and forced unwanted physical intimacy’ over her two years of work at the firm. She filed suit last Friday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, seeking $20 million.

The lawsuit was filed against Polsinelli and the shareholders, referenced in the suit as Dov Scherzer, a senior technology and privacy attorney, and Gabriel Dabiri, leader of the firm’s private credit and cross-border finance practice and the firm’s New York office managing partner.”

The NLJ article was preceded by reports in the ABA Journal, Above the Law, and Law 360.

ABA Journal Reports on Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Polsinelli

Sept. 19, 2023 – The American Bar Association (ABA) Journal reports on a lawsuit by Brewer client Julia Rix against Polsinelli, accusing the firm and two of its partners of sexual harassment. According to the article, “A former international corporate attorney at Polsinelli has alleged that she experienced ‘callous gaslighting’ and retaliation by the law firm when she complained about sexual harassment by two influential senior partners.”

The article continues, “In a $20 million lawsuit filed Sept. 15, plaintiff Julia I. Rix said she was ‘repeatedly hounded’ by the two male partners who wanted her to join them for after-hours drinks and hotel meetings. She was also forced ‘to endure salacious comments about her appearance’ and subjected to an unwanted kiss in ‘one sordid episode,’ the suit alleges.” As reported, Rix’s suit, filed in Washington, D.C., civil court, alleges breach of contract, violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, violations of Washington, D.C., human rights law, and infliction of emotional distress.

Brewer partner William A. Brewer III said in a statement to the ABA Journal: “Like many other women in the legal industry, our client claims she was subjected to unwanted sexual harassment at the hands of senior leaders in the firm. Our client believes that Polsinelli not only failed to protect her but revictimized her by failing to properly investigate her allegations. When our client bravely stepped forward to report the abuse she endured, she claims the firm did the unimaginable: immediately terminated her employment. She filed this matter to lay bare a culture of harassment that has victimized many in the workplace and has been intentionally shielded from public view. That ends today.”

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