DLA Piper (Photo: Jason Doiy/ALM).

The DLA Piper partner who alleged that a senior partner sexually assaulted her has been placed on administrative leave, the firm said Wednesday morning, pointing to allegations that she harassed another lawyer at the firm.

The firm said in a statement that Vanina Guerrero was placed on leave immediately. Last week, Guerrero's public accusation that partner Louis Lehot sexually assaulted her led to him being fired from the firm. The firm, referring to Guerrero by her maiden name, de Verneuil, in its statement, emphasized that the allegations against her are completely unrelated to her own allegations against Lehot.

"This was done because, during the course of our investigation into her claims, serious issues were brought to the firm's attention regarding Ms. de Verneuil's conduct towards and involving others at the firm. It has been determined that these issues, which are unrelated to Ms. de Verneuil's claims, require a separate investigation," the firm said.

Guerrero's attorneys at Wigdor LLP provided a copy of the letter Guerrero received from DLA Piper, which is dated Tuesday. In an emailed statement, her lawyers accused DLA Piper of engaging in a "smear campaign" against Guerrero.

Vanina Guerrero

The letter, signed by DLA Piper's Americas managing partner, Stasia Kelly, said: "As you know, during the course of our investigation of your allegations against Louis Lehot, another individual at the firm alleged that you engaged in inappropriate behavior toward, and harassed, that individual."

The letter also alleged that Guerrero has not cooperated in the firm's investigations of Lehot and herself. And it noted that Arnold & Porter has been retained to investigate the claims against Guerrero.

Wigdor LLP partner Jeanne Christensen added, "There may be legal ramifications for publicizing administrative leave," and that she's informed DLA.

"We've fought lots of these fights in the press: Fox News, Bill O'Reilly. You would think a law firm knows better. I cannot think of another [instance] where we've represented an individual bringing accusations against an abuser and the employer has come out with this type of smear," Christensen said.

In its own public statement, DLA Piper declined to give more specific detail on Guerrero's alleged conduct.

"Given the nature of these serious claims, as well as Ms. de Verneuil's refusal to cooperate regarding the allegations against her, the firm has determined that the best course of action at this time is to place Ms. de Verneuil on paid administrative leave. We are not in a position to comment further now other than to provide this brief statement in order to ensure that the public record is accurate in light of extensive public commentary from Ms. de Verneuil and her lawyers."

In her open letter about Lehot's alleged conduct, Guerrero asked the firm to release her from a mandatory arbitration agreement. She also published a complaint to the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, which detailed her allegations.

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