Jones Day’s ‘Black-Box’ Pay Prevails for Now as Women Drop Suit

Jones Day’s system for paying attorneys—so mysterious that some have dubbed it a “black box"—is one of the winners after five women lawyers recently dropped their lawsuit against the firm.

The women had alleged that pay decisions are controlled exclusively by Jones Day Managing Partner Stephen Brogan, based on subjective factors that aren’t disclosed to the firm’s lawyers. The “black box” waters down female lawyers’ compensation, they claimed.

But five of six women who brought the suit told a federal judge March 11 they’re withdrawing it. Their attorneys and Jones Day representatives declined to say whether the case had been ...