Proskauer Partner Behind $50M Gender Bias Suit Jumps to Polsinelli

Connie Bertram has left Proskauer Rose, the firm she sued for gender discrimination, to join Polsinelli as a shareholder in Washington, D.C.

Last month Bertram resolved her $50 million lawsuit against Proskauer, where she led the firm's labor and employment practice. Details of the settlement were confidential.

In a statement explaining her decision to change firms, Bertram cited the “tremendous teaming opportunities” presented by Polsinelli's government contracts, government investigations and corporate practices. ”Polsinelli offers a terrific combination of substantive expertise and talented attorneys with a great collaborative culture,” she said.

Nancy Rafuse, chair of Polsinelli's labor and employment department, said she was eager to welcome Bertram to the firm, adding that she has known her for many years and worked for some of the same clients.

“Connie has a sophisticated practice, a great client base, is a talented lawyer and is a nationally ranked and recognized lawyer,” Rafuse said in a statement.

Neither Polsinelli nor Bertram were immediately available to answer additional questions on the move. Proskauer did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Bertram's departure.

In her lawsuit against Proskauer, Bertram alleged that there were ”substantial gender disparities” in the firm's partnership, claiming she was paid millions of dollars less than her male counterparts despite her “ stellar performance.” Bertram's complaint said she was excluded from client matters and prevented from pitching clients on employment litigation matters. Proskauer defended itself against her claims and blasted Bertram as trying to “squeeze a massive payout from our firm in exchange for her rapid departure and an agreement not to weaponize her blatantly inaccurate charges.”

After suing Proskauer in May 2017, Bertram stayed on as a partner and remained listed as head of the employment practice there.

Sanford Heisler Sharp, which has brought a number of law firm partnership bias cases in the past two years, represented Bertram in the suit. Among Sanford Heisler's cases was a similar case against now-defunct Chadbourne & Parke brought by D.C. partner Kerrie Campbell. Chadbourne and its successor firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, were represented by Proskauer in that case, which agreed to settle in March 2018.

In her employment practice, Bertram specializes in complex internal investigations, whistleblower claims, government contracting compliance and trade secret and False Claims Act litigation. Bertram's hire bolsters Polsinelli's national growth, which last year included head count gains of 25 lawyers and an 8 percent rise in revenue.