Chicago, IL – Jinan Chehade, a former summer associate at Foley & Lardner LLP, filed a discrimination lawsuit against the firm, claiming her job offer was rescinded due to her public comments supporting Palestine. The suit, lodged in Illinois federal court, alleges that the firm terminated her employment because of her religion and ethnicity.
Chehade, a Muslim Arab woman with ties to Gaza and Lebanon, was set to start her first full-time position at Foley & Lardner’s Chicago office on October 23, 2023. However, she alleges that the firm fired her the previous evening after scrutinizing her social media posts advocating for Palestinian rights amidst Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
According to the complaint, Chehade asserts that her dismissal was an act of discrimination, pointing out that no attorneys who publicly supported Israel faced similar consequences. The suit highlights posts by several firm partners backing Israel’s actions without repercussion, contrasting with Chehade’s treatment.
