The firm "responsible for legal arguments widely criticized as sexist has requested to withdraw from representing U.S. Soccer in its gender discrimination lawsuit" with the USWNT, according to Julia Poe of PRO SOCCER USA. The Seyfarth Shaw legal team "drew intense backlash for offensive language in a March 9 filing for the defense that said the work" of the USWNT "did not require 'equal skill, effort and responsibility'" to that of the USMNT. Prior to the official withdrawal, U.S. Soccer "included a footnote in a previous filing saying the federation would no longer rely on the strategy and that it hired the firm Latham & Watkins" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 4/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Cassandra Negley noted Latham & Watkins counts former U.S. Soccer President Alan Rothenberg as a "retired partner." The firm "defended U.S. Soccer before in the wage discrimination complaint filed by the players" in '16 with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Meanwhile, in regard to the equal pay lawsuit, the USWNT is seeking $67M in "back pay." The issue is "scheduled to go to trial in May, though it would likely be rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/2).
