Roberta Kaplan, a prominent lawyer known for her work on landmark cases including the end of the ban on gay marriage and her advocacy for sexual assault victims, has left the law firm she founded in 2017. The departure follows reports from colleagues that she consistently mistreated lawyers and fostered an unprofessional office culture.
According to insiders, Kaplan allegedly made inappropriate comments about employees’ appearances, insulted colleagues, and threatened their careers. Her lawyers, however, denied these allegations, stating that Kaplan and the firm took allegations of workplace misconduct seriously.
Before her departure, Kaplan was removed from the firm’s management committee by her colleagues. The firm’s two named partners, Julie Fink and Sean Hecker, issued a statement saying, “It was Robbie’s decision to leave the firm. We wish her the very best and look forward to working with her and her new firm in the future.”
Kaplan’s departure marks a significant turn of events for the #MeToo movement leader, who has represented high-profile clients including writer E. Jean Carroll against former President Donald Trump over sexual assault allegations and fought against prominent members of the entertainment industry. Kaplan’s decision to consult with then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations against him in 2020 led to her resignation as chairwoman of the Time’s Up board. The matter was reported months later by the state attorney general, sparking tensions within the law firm.
