Cozen Partner Named in Discrimination Suit Joins London Fischer

A former partner at Cozen O’Connor in New York who was named last month in a discrimination suit has left to join London Fischer.

John McDonough, who was the chair of Cozen’s strategic risk and complex litigation group, joined Monday as partner at London Fischer, said Vincent Petrungaro, chief administrative officer at the New York and California-based firm.

In his new role, McDonough will “establish and co-lead a strategic risk and complex litigation practice,” Petrungaro said. “This group will augment our existing high stakes litigation groups specializing in cyber, construction, products liability and insurance coverage and reinsurance. Much of this litigation is multi-district and in various locales around the United States.”

In August, Nilda Sastre, a former paralegal at Cozen, sued McDonough and the firm alleging discrimination and harassment.

“Over the course of her employment at Cozen, Mr. McDonough engaged in a campaign of harassment and discrimination against Ms. Sastre because of her sex, race, national origin, age, and in retaliation for engaging in activity protected by state and local human rights laws,” the complaint says.

Among several of the incidents described in the complaint, Sastre alleges that McDonough told her she had a “horrible accent” and banned her from speaking to clients and ordered to her attend “accent reduction” courses.

She complained to the human resources department and in January 2021 she was fired by the firm, according to the complaint. Sastre is being represented by Edward Keenan of Keenan & Bhatia.

London Fischer declined to comment on the discrimination allegations. Neither McDonough nor Cozen responded to a request for comment. Cozen O’Connor has more than 825 attorneys practicing internationally in 30 cities across North America and Europe, according to its website.

—With assistance from Meghan Tribe