DLA Piper partner Vanina Guerrero filed an EEOC complaint alleging co-managing partner Louis Lehot sexually assaulted her four times during business trips and at his Palo Alto home in October, 2019. Two additional women came forward with allegations he made one “physically afraid” and was a “textbook bully” protected by firm leadership. DLA Piper parted ways with Lehot though stating allegations remained “unsubstantiated.” Sixteen months later, Foley & Lardner hired him. He now serves as a prominent Silicon Valley dealmaker regularly quoted in major business press about M&A trends and venture capital markets.
Four Assaults Over Ten Months and Three Women Come Forward
Guerrero joined DLA Piper in September 2018 after Lehot recruited her from Hong Kong, promising she would “be my boss soon.” She moved her husband and two toddlers across the Pacific. Two weeks after starting, Lehot allegedly sexually assaulted her in his Shanghai hotel room. Over ten months, she reported three additional assaults during business trips to Brazil and Chicago, and after a firm party at Lehot’s home where he allegedly plied her with alcohol.
The complaint alleged Lehot told Guerrero she succeeded “only because men were attracted to her” and that clients were “uncomfortable” working with her because of her “sexual appeal.” When she resisted, he allegedly retaliated by excluding her from deals, spreading affair rumors, forcing her to take the California bar exam unprepared, and telling her husband’s immigration lawyer she planned to divorce him. The stress sent her to the emergency room multiple times with panic attacks. When she reported the conduct to co-managing partner Sang Kim, she was told it sounded like “he said, she said” and to “talk it out” with Lehot and three senior male partners. Days later, she was removed from a major deal.
Within weeks, Andrea Ivan, a 65-year-old administrative assistant, filed her own EEOC charge alleging Lehot targeted her because she was “too old or not attractive enough” and that the firm terminated her after she complained. Leah Christensen, ethics counsel in DLA’s general counsel office, described Lehot as a “textbook bully” who acted as if rules didn’t apply. When she raised conflicts concerns, Christensen alleged she was told there was a top-ten list of partners the general counsel’s office “should not bother.” Lehot topped that list.
DLA Piper’s 122-Page Response and the Campaign Against Guerrero
DLA Piper announced Lehot’s departure on October 11, 2019, stating: “Despite the fact that the allegations have not been substantiated by the investigation to date, the firm has concluded for various reasons that it is in the best interest of the firm that we part ways with Louis Lehot.” Five days later, DLA Piper placed Guerrero on paid administrative leave, claiming its investigation uncovered “serious issues” about her conduct unrelated to her claims. The firm alleged another employee reported harassment by Guerrero. Her attorney called it “a despicable smear campaign against a female victim of sexual assault.”
On October 29, 2019, DLA Piper filed a 122-page EEOC response alleging Guerrero “orchestrated an emotional flirtation” to advance her career. Gibson Dunn attorneys included emails Guerrero wrote containing statements like “Louis: This man will help me / Control him: friendship w/o anything” and “Cannelize the energy – get me to where I need professionally.” The firm noted she traveled to Machu Picchu with Lehot in March 2019, after the fourth alleged assault, and accepted expensive jewelry including a $9,000 Cartier Love Bracelet and Bulgari ring.
Lehot acknowledged “poor judgment in developing an emotional relationship with Vanina Guerrero” but denied assault. “I did not assault or harass Vanina Guerrero and she knows it,” he said. “This isn’t victim-blaming or victim-shaming. She’s not a victim here.” He claimed she was “exploiting the #MeToo movement to cover up her own issues.”
Guerrero asked DLA Piper to release her from mandatory arbitration so she could pursue claims in open court. The firm never responded. Law students protested outside three DLA Piper offices. Senator Kamala Harris, whose husband was a DLA partner, supported Guerrero’s right to litigate publicly. No public record exists of settlement, judgment, or arbitration award. The case disappeared into confidential processes.
From Boutique Firm to Foley & Lardner: The Sixteen-Month Rehabilitation
After leaving DLA Piper, Lehot founded L2 Counsel, a Silicon Valley boutique, which operated two years while controversy faded. In February 2021, Foley & Lardner hired him along with L2 colleagues. Bloomberg Law’s headline: “Foley Adds Lawyer Lehot Who Was Accused of Sexual Assault.” Foley Chairman Jay Rothman praised Lehot’s “extensive M&A and transactional experience” while noting the firm “conducted due diligence” on allegations. Sixteen months after leaving DLA Piper, with no criminal charges, no public settlement, and EEOC complaints buried in confidential arbitration, Foley determined the risk was manageable.
Lehot now operates as prominent partner across Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles offices. Chambers USA recognizes him in Venture Capital (2021-2025) and Startups and Emerging Growth (2025). He serves on the Silicon Valley Directors’ Exchange advisory board affiliated with Stanford Law School. Major publications regularly quote him. In November 2024, he told Business Insider Big Tech companies had been “frozen out for nearly four years” from acquisitions. In December 2024, he assessed venture capital liquidity for The Wall Street Journal. He regularly authors articles on M&A trends, SPAC markets, and AI regulation. Foley’s 2024 revenue reached $1.28 billion, up 9.2 percent. Lehot features prominently in marketing materials.
How Big Law Protects Rainmakers While Accusers Disappear
The Lehot trajectory illustrates how Big Law handles misconduct allegations against rainmakers. Firms investigate, find claims “unsubstantiated,” yet part ways “for various reasons”—protecting liability while suggesting problems weren’t serious. Accusers get placed on leave and face counter-allegations. Additional complainants emerge but disappear into confidential processes. The accused denies wrongdoing, acknowledges “poor judgment,” exits quietly. A boutique provides cover during controversy. A competing firm performs “due diligence,” decides reputational risk is acceptable given revenue potential, and hires the attorney. Within two years, the matter becomes a footnote.
No criminal charges materialize. Claims vanish into arbitration sealed from public view. If settlements occur, nondisclosure agreements ensure silence. The attorney resumes practicing, generating revenue. Trade publications quote him as expert. Bar associations recognize excellence. Law students see success. Meanwhile, public records contain no information about Vanina Guerrero’s current employment or whether she continues practicing law. Her LinkedIn profile shows Partner at DLA Piper ending October 2019. Andrea Ivan’s employment status following her EEOC complaint remains unknown. Leah Christensen’s career after supporting Guerrero is similarly unclear. The women who spoke out disappeared from public view. The powerful partner returned with full institutional support.
Law firms calculate risk versus revenue when hiring attorneys with harassment allegations. For rainmakers like Lehot, who spent over 20 years building relationships with venture capital funds and technology companies, revenue potential outweighs risk. Clients either don’t know about allegations, don’t care, or decided legal capabilities matter more. Major corporations continue retaining him for high-value transactions. The message to Big Law partners: misconduct allegations cause temporary disruption, but career recovery is entirely possible with patience and the right book of business.
The arbitration system ensures misconduct allegations rarely become public. Mandatory arbitration clauses force complainants into confidential proceedings without discovery, limited appeals, and sealed outcomes. Nondisclosure agreements prevent discussion. This system protects firms and accused attorneys while silencing those who report misconduct.
Conclusion
Louis Lehot left DLA Piper in October 2019 after three women filed complaints about his behavior. He operated a boutique firm for two years, then joined Foley & Lardner in 2021. He now serves as prominent Silicon Valley attorney regularly quoted in major publications, earning Chambers recognition and serving on Stanford-affiliated advisory boards. The women who reported misconduct disappeared from public view with no evidence of compensation or career advancement. This outcome demonstrates how Big Law manages sexual misconduct allegations when accused attorneys control significant revenue.
Individuals are entitled to presumption of innocence. Allegations based on EEOC complaints and public statements. No criminal charges filed. Cases resolved through confidential processes. Updated November 13, 2025.
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