A lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York federal court accuses Meltzer Lippe Goldstein & Breitstone LLP of pervasive gender discrimination and retaliation against former partner Laura Brancato. According to the complaint, the New York-based firm fostered a hostile work environment where senior male attorneys made crude jokes about women, allegedly undermined female employees’ career progression, and ultimately terminated Brancato for raising concerns about workplace sexism.
Allegations of Gender Bias and Retaliation
Brancato’s 32-page lawsuit alleges that Meltzer Lippe’s managing partner, David Heymann, along with firm founder Lew Meltzer, contributed to a culture of misogyny. The complaint describes instances of crude humor and inappropriate remarks at company events, where female attorneys were reportedly discouraged from attending. Brancato further claims that firm leaders thwarted her attempts to establish a women’s affinity group and denied her a promotion to equity partner, replacing her instead as head of the elder law practice after she raised issues about gender bias.