Kelley Drye Drops De-Equitization Policy for Older Lawyers, Says EEOC Wanted Change
Kelley Drye & Warren is dropping a policy of removing older partners from equity partnership that had triggered a discrimination lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The EEOC had alleged that Kelley Drye undercompensated lawyers who were automatically removed from equity ownership after the age of 70. On Tuesday, law firm chairman John Callagy told the New York Law Journal that Kelley Drye has ended the policy, and older partners will now be judged on performance rather than age.
“We did it for various reasons,” Callagy told the legal publication. “It doesn’t serve our business interests anymore. And the EEOC wanted us to do it. We told them we would do it, we told them before the lawsuit we would do it.”
It is unclear how the decision will affect the EEOC suit, brought on behalf 79-year-old lawyer Eugene D’Ablemont, the story says.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Kelley Drye Defends De-Equitization of Older Lawyers in Lawsuit Response”
ABAJournal.com: “EEOC Sues Kelley Drye, Says Pay Policy for Older Lawyers Discriminates & Seeks Sweeping Relief”
