As the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has become more aggressive, Seyfarth Shaw has developed a reputation as one of the law firms companies seek out to protect themselves.
When the agency targeted Kaplan Higher Education Corp. for alleged racial discrimination in its hiring, the company tapped Seyfarth partners Gerald Maatman Jr., Pamela Devata and Chicago office managing partner David Rowland. Kaplan stood accused of using credit checks to disqualify African-American job applicants. In discovery, the attorneys learned that the EEOC considers credit history in its own hiring process. The Seyfarth attorneys convinced U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan to dismiss.
