Katherine Leong

Katherine Leong is an Associate in the Washington D.C. office of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, LLP.

Ms. Leong assisted with a case representing 5600 female sales representatives for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. in the largest gender discrimination case ever to reach trial. After a 5 week trial the jury found Novartis liable for discrimination in pay and promotion and related to pregnancy. The jury returned a verdict of $250 million in punitive damages and the entire class of 5600 women is also entitled to compensatory damages which could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Before joining SWH in September 2009, Ms. Leong worked for five years as a litigation associate at Williams & Connolly, where she advocated on behalf of primarily corporate clients in commercial and pharmaceutical litigation. She also represented individuals in pro bono cases involving asylum and wage and hour law.