A former associate of DLA Piper has filed a lawsuit alleging that a high-ranking firm partner assaulted them in the firm’s Delaware office, according to reporting by Law.com’s Delaware Business Court coverage. The complaint, filed in Delaware Superior Court, asserts claims arising from alleged misconduct during the associate’s employment and raises questions about the firm’s internal response to the incident.
While attention has focused on the seriousness of the allegations, the case highlights broader legal and risk considerations for large law firms and professional services organizations. Claims involving senior leadership can expose employers to overlapping liability under common-law tort theories, employment discrimination and retaliation statutes, and internal policy or partnership-agreement obligations—particularly where allegations involve the workplace and supervisory authority.
For employers, these matters present heightened exposure: internal complaint reports, investigation files, and leadership communications may become central evidence; the firm’s response timeline and remedial actions are often scrutinized as closely as the underlying conduct; and failures in reporting, supervision, or escalation protocols can materially increase liability. Reputational risk and partner-level governance issues frequently accompany the litigation itself.
Outside Legal Counsel LLP advises employees and employers on workplace misconduct investigations, compliance risk, internal governance audits, separation agreement negotiations and litigation mitigation strategies. Contact us today.
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