In a significant ruling on Friday, a former equity partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Julie O’Dell, was referred to arbitration in an ongoing pay dispute with her former firm. The decision was handed down by Judge Barbara M. Scheper of the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County.
The dispute stems from O’Dell’s contention that her agreement to arbitrate— which mandates her to pay a portion of the costs—should be deemed unenforceable. However, Judge Scheper found the arbitration agreement valid, emphasizing that O’Dell was not an employee and was fully aware of the terms she had accepted.
This case is a part of a series of similar lawsuits filed by former partners against Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, where the underlying allegations often revolve around purported bias and other grievances. For a more detailed overview, you can access the original coverage here.