Five former Nixon Peabody partners who left to join DLA Piper in 2019 accused their previous firm of trying to claw back bonuses exceeding $100,000, according to a suit filed in New York state court Tuesday.

The partners said their suit was prompted by a COVID-19 related breakdown in a mediation intended to resolve the dispute, contending that Nixon Peabody disregarded the dispute resolution process outlined in its partnership agreement by initiating two arbitration proceedings in August.