Ex-Baker McKenzie Lawyer Sues Firm, DC Leader for Sexual Assault

A former Baker McKenzie associate is suing the firm over alleged sexual assault by the leader of its DC office, ratcheting up a fight that began when she went public with the accusations three months ago.

Brooke Radford said in a complaint filed Thursday that Maurice Bellan pulled her onto him on a couch in one instance and forcefully hugged her in another. She also described a situation in which he left his hotel room door open for colleagues to find him naked on a bed, and said he offered to pay Radford $50,000 to have a child with Bellan’s son.

Baker McKenzie “knew of this sexually harassing conduct and failed to take prompt, effective, or reasonable steps to stop it, prevent it from reoccurring, or protect” Radford, according to the complaint. Radford accused Bellan of making “unwanted sexual advances” and said she was eventually fired for turning him down.

Baker McKenzie and Bellan did not immediately respond to comment requests. The pair is already suing Radford for defamation over the accusations against Bellan, which she made in a series of LinkedIn posts beginning Sept. 16, and claims that firm leaders covered up the situation.

Radford’s complaint for the first time details the alleged sexual assault, which she said occurred at Bellan’s Maryland home and during conferences in Las Vegas and Chicago. It also names Baker McKenzie partners and associates who Radford says where aware of at least some of Bellan’s conduct.

The firm said in its Oct. 2 defamation suit against Radford that she had dated Bellan’s son and made false accusations against Bellan to seek “retribution” after she was fired for misusing a firm credit card. Bellan accused Radford of “stalking” and on Sept. 21 obtained a temporary restraining order barring her from contacting or entering Baker McKenzie’s DC office, according to court documents.

Radford, who is representing herself in both lawsuits, alleged that Bellan chastised her after she told him that she and his son “were not romantically compatible.” Radford also said Bellan posted her address online, stalked her, and sent people to her home and places she frequented.

She reiterated a Jan. 21 statement when asked for comment: “My family and I are concerned about our safety and we are disgusted by how far Baker McKenzie is willing to stoop to protect a predator,” she said.

Radford worked as a tax associate in the firm’s DC office for nearly three years before leaving in July 2025. Baker McKenzie is among the country’s 10 largest law firms, bringing in nearly $3.4 billion in gross revenue in 2024.

The case is Radford v. Baker & McKenzie, D.C. Super. Ct., 2026-CAB-000465, 1/22/26