Amid increased awareness of sexual misconduct claims, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan is promoting what it says is a new practice unit that will help clients conduct internal investigations into alleged sexual misconduct in the workplace.

The group will be led by two Stroock lawyers, former U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin and former New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams. The group will also include Joel Cohen, Howard Lavin, Michele Pahmer and Elizabeth DiMichele.

Stroock is among several law firms to shift and reorganize their practices in light of the #MeToo movement and the increased threat of litigation against corporations, which is presenting more business opportunities for employment practices at Am Law 200 firms. Other firms are hiring more lawyers who can investigate such claims.

In announcing the group on Monday, Stroock said it will help clients in maintaining stronger programs for reporting inappropriate sexual behavior and for responding to allegations of harassment or abuse with a thorough investigation of suspected wrongdoing. The group can counsel clients in response to litigation or enforcement actions stemming from alleged misconduct, the firm said, while the lawyers will also help clients' in-house training programs to prevent harassment.

Scheindlin, who presided over many discrimination cases in her 22 years on the bench, said although the law firm has always provided clients with investigation services for sexual misconduct claims, such services were centered in its employment law group. Now the firm is “bringing together different skills” from other parts of the firm, including from its litigation, criminal defense and corporate attorneys for a more visible and focused practice, she said.

Scheindlin said outside experts are helpful in internal investigations because they may bring in more trust and credibility and the accuser may be more willing to speak with an outside professional.

Although Scheindlin and Cohen acknowledged in a Monday opinion article in the Guardian that there may be a ”lingering perception” that outside experts are doing a company's bidding when hired to investigate a misconduct claim, Scheindlin said in an interview that the reputation of the outside investigators may overcome that perception.

“You want somebody with that record” of being honest, neutral and having high integrity, she said. “That image will make a difference.”

Lavin, an employment law partner at Stroock and a member of the new unit, said the firm has seen a marked increase in requests from companies for training to educate managers and employees on proper workplace conduct.