The legal battle against Davis Polk & Wardell continues with Kaloma Cardwell’s racial discrimination and retaliation case. Cardwell, once an associate at the firm and the sole Black male amongst his class of associates that commenced in 2014, decided to sue his former firm in 2019. He alleges having faced negative repercussions and eventual termination owing to his vocalisations about racial discrimination within the firm.
In recent testimony, the introductory witness was former Davis Polk professional development manager Rocio Clausen, brought forward by Cardwell’s attorney, David Jeffries. Clausen recalled disturbing instances when Cardwell rebuffed taking on work within the credit group during busy times, which she termed as “not the traditional response”.
You can read more about these developments in the ongoing trial in an article recently published in the New York Law Journal. Undoubtedly, this case, among others, is bringing to question the deep-seated practices within our industry and urging a relook at policies, actions, and attitudes that may serve to marginalise or discriminate.