Ho, ho: Axed NY BigLaw Associate Calls Firing Religious Discrimination (MORE, CLICK HERE)

By Anthony Lin
New York Law Journal - December 24, 2007

Allen & Overy is facing a religious discrimination suit by a former New York associate who claims he was fired because he insisted on observing the Jewish sabbath.

Norman D. Schoenfeld claimed in a suit filed in Manhattan federal court Thursday that the British law firm fired him in October after he had worked there for two months because one partner in particular was upset that Mr. Schoenfeld was unable to work on matters from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

According to the complaint, leveraged finance partner Mark S. Wojciechowski recruited Mr. Schoenfeld to Allen & Overy knowing he was an observant Jew but nonetheless swore at him before he left one Friday and also demanded that the associate respond to e-mails on a Saturday morning. Mr. Wojciechowski also allegedly insisted the associate work with him during a Jewish holiday.

Mr. Schoenfeld, a 1999 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, claims his observance did not interfere with his work and that he billed hours similar to other associates at the firm.

In a statement responding to the suit, Allen & Overy said Mr. Schoenfeld was fired solely for performance reasons during a trial period of employment. The firm said it was committed to diversity, and a firm spokeswoman said there were a number of lawyers at the firm who observed the Jewish sabbath.

In its statement, the firm also said Mr. Schoenfeld, who joined Allen & Overy from the New York office of Andrews Kurth, had failed to disclose on his resume his employment for 32 days at another New York law firm.

Mr. Schoenfeld in represented by Anne Vladeck of Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard; Allen & Overy has retained Rene M. Fleming of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.