Duane Morris Gets New Venue in Non-Equity Partnerships Challenge

Duane Morris won its request to move a partner’s lawsuit over her non-equity status at the firm to the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

The Northern District of California where the suit was filed lacks “any significant connection to claims alleged,” Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. ruled. The plaintiff lives and works in San Diego and many of the likely witnesses in the case are partners in the firm’s office there, Duane Morris argued.

Partner Meagan Garland alleges the firm misclassified her and other attorneys as non-equity partners to reduce business and tax expenses. Garland, a Black ...