Young Gay Lawyer
Settles Suit With Former Employer

A young gay attorney in New York City has reached a settlement with his former employer, the Sullivan & Cromwell law firm, after suing the firm for discrimination based on his sexual orientation. The undisclosed settlement brings to a close a dispute that has fascinated New York's legal community for months, reports The New York Times.

Twenty-eight-year-old Aaron Charney filed the lawsuit in January, alleging that several partners in the firm discriminated against him because he is gay and that superiors ignored his complaints. One such complaint accused partners of repeatedly demanding he be terminated for carrying out an "unnatural" relationship with another Sullivan & Cromwell associate with whom he often had lunch.

Sullivan & Cromwell responded to the lawsuit by countersuing Charney for leaking confidential information about cases and clients to The Wall Street Journal during his legal battle. He was dismissed from the firm soon after.

It is extremely rare for a junior associate to sue his or her employer for discrimination; such actions are perceived as damaging to future employment opportunities in the field of law. Still, Charney has stated that he has not ruled out returning to the firm. (The Advocate)