Employment Law Veteran Bertram Leaves Polsinelli to Start Firm

Washington-based labor and employment lawyer and Big Law veteran Connie Bertram has left Polsinelli to set up shop at her own firm, Bertram LLP, where she plans to handle employment law and government contractor related work.

Bertram joined Polsinelli in 2018 as a shareholder shortly after settling a gender discrimination suit against her previous firm, Proskauer, where she had held leadership positions in its Government Contractor Compliance Group, its Labor & Employment practice in Washington, and its Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.

Bertram’s $50 million suit alleged “substantial gender disparities” at the firm including gender discrimination in compensation as well as retaliation for speaking out about inequities. Proskauer called the claims meritless at the time. Neither party has commented on the confidential settlement.

The case was one of several high profile suits involving gender discrimination and pay equity filed against Big Law firms in recent years.

Bertram’s new firm will handle complex employment litigation, whistleblower defense, internal investigations, and government contractor compliance.

“I want an efficient, nimble firm where lawyers are not measured by the billable hour,” she said. “I have been impressed by the model used by the large accounting and consulting firms that is not lockstep. Lawyers will have the flexibility to progress at their own pace.”

The founding of Bertram LLP comes at dynamic time for several areas of employment law that are evolving in part because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Covid-19 has necessitated internal adjustments to furloughs and layoffs, among other things,” said Bertram.

There is also an atmosphere of uncertainty between the courts and government agencies like the National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to Bertram.

“There has been a sea change in employment law with the federal government not taking action, and the state and local levels stepping into the breach,” she said.

Bertram has represented employers, boards, and executives in employment-related disputes and litigation, including whistleblower, trade secret and employee mobility matters. She has conducted confidential internal investigations of executive-level employees including for alleged fraud, theft or misuse of company data and sexual harassment. Before heading to Proskauer, she was also a partner at Winston & Strawn and Cooley.

Bertram said her new firm will have a physical office in downtown Washington., with space that can be utilized as needed, and will offer a flexible working model for lawyers.

“We thank Connie for her commitment to our firm over the past two years and wish her well in her future endeavors,” Polsinelli said in a statement.