Ex-Lewis Brisbois Billing Director Says Firm Lied About Finances

Lewis Brisbois’ former billing director accused the firm of “illegal financial practices” in a discrimination and harassment lawsuit this week.

The law firm misrepresented its finances to partners and unlawfully withheld client funds, Martin Ervin said in a complaint filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. He also accused Lewis Brisbois of turning a blind eye to race and sex discrimination by two prominent partners.

“Plaintiff’s position with Lewis Brisbois meant he was one of few individuals besides the CFO who observed both the accounting of payments received from clients and the firm’s emails to relevant partners regarding those payments,” the complaint states. “Often, the numbers did not match. The numbers reported to partners were lower than the payments actually received by the firm.”

Ervin, who is Black and Mexican, worked at the firm for five years before going on medical leave in 2023. He alleges that he was harassed and discriminated against by partners and eventually was replaced by a less qualified white employee. Lewis Brisbois and two former partners named in the suit—John Barber and Jeff Ranen—did not immediately respond to comment requests.

The lawsuit marks the latest complaint over Lewis Brisbois’ financial practices and work culture. It follows a chaotic stretch that saw more than 120 lawyers exit and resulted in the ouster of co-founder Bob Lewis and members of his family.

Accusations of financial mismanagement surfaced in 2023 when a whistleblower letter from the firm’s former chief operating officer accusing the firm of potential embezzlement became public. Complaints about partners’ inappropriate conduct directed at women and people of color also bubbled up around the same time after the firm released old emails by Barber and Ranen.

Ervin said he told an unnamed equity partner about “illegal financial practices” who reported his concerns to the firm’s leadership committees in 2021. In response, the firm placed the partner at the bottom of the firm’s pay scale, according to the complaint. Ervin also said Lewis, the firm’s co-founder, in 2022, “quietly acknowledged to certain members of the firm that the firm was engaging in systemic unethical billing practices.”

Duo Accused of Discrimination

Barber and Ranen led the firm’s employment department before leaving in May 2023 to start their own shop, prompting a mass exodus. The offshoot firm, Barber Ranen, folded a few months later after Lewis Brisbois released a tranche of emails in which the pair used racist and sexist language.

Ervin alleges that Ranen told Ervin that having a large family is “common for you people.” After the death of George Floyd triggered nationwide protests, Ranen allegedly said: “One Black guy dies and the world has gone crazy. He resisted arrest and was held. It was his fault.” Ranen in another instance allegedly said of a female employee: “She is asking for it dressing like that.”

Barber told Ervin that he didn’t see Ervin as Black, according to the complaint. “You’re put together and well spoken,” Barber reportedly said to Ervin. Barber also allegedly called Ervin “brother” during a conference call.

Ervin’s suit challenges the firm’s statement in 2023 after Barber and Ranen left to start the new firm. The firm said its leaders and HR department were not aware of Barber and Ranen’s behavior until receiving an anonymous complaint.

Ervin “repeatedly reported similar conduct by Barber, Ranen, and several others to Lewis Brisbois leadership and Human Resources,” according to the complaint. “Plaintiff knew that Lewis Brisbois had condoned racist and sexist conduct for many years and was distressed that Lewis Brisbois was lying to the press about Plaintiff and others who had endured unlawful abuse.”

Ervin worked at the firm until October of 2022, when he was hospitalized to treat diverticulitis. He went on medical leave following a depression diagnosis and he was informed in 2023 by the firm’s former HR chief Luann Perez that he was fired due to his extended medical leave.

Ervin is represented by Tracy Fehr of Alexander Morrison + Fehr. He filed charges of discrimination, harassment and retaliation with California’s Civil Rights Department which issued a right to sue. Ervin and the firm entered into a tolling agreement which has expired, according to the complaint.

The case is: Martin Ervin v. Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, Cal. Super. Ct., 26STCV11197, 4/7/26