Proskauer Rose has responded to a $10 million gender discrimination suit filed by its former chief financial officer, Elly Rosenthal, who alleges the firm marginalized her and eventually fired her after she took leave for breast cancer treatment. “We were disappointed to learn that a former employee, Elly Rosenthal, has filed a suit against the Firm,” Proskauer spokesman Josh Epstein said in a statement. “Any assertion that Ms. Rosenthal’s employment was affected because of her gender, age or claimed disability is meritless. Many of our high-level managerial and administrative positions are held by women over the age of 50 and we have steadfastly supported our colleagues who have suffered illnesses or otherwise needed accommodation related to disability. We regret that Ms. Rosenthal has taken this step but we are confident that our actions will be vindicated by an independent decision maker.”
In Rosenthal v. Proskauer Rose, 111343-11, filed on Oct. 5 in Manhattan Supreme Court, Ms. Rosenthal, 57, accuses the firm, which has more than 650 attorneys in 12 offices, of demoting her after she took medical leave in 2008, denying her pay increases and eventually replacing her with a man who was less qualified. Her suit asserts claims under New York state and New York City Human Rights Laws (NYLJ, Oct. 6).
