A high-stakes legal battle has erupted in Harris County, Texas, where a former partner of a prominent law firm has filed a lawsuit alleging racial and gender discrimination. Wilka Toppins, the plaintiff, lodged her complaint against Womble Bond & Dickinson, L.P., on April 25, 2025. The case underscores ongoing issues of workplace discrimination and retaliation within major corporate environments.
Wilka Toppins, a Hispanic female attorney who was employed as a salaried partner at Womble Bond & Dickinson's Houston office from November 1, 2021, until January 31, 2024, claims she faced systemic discrimination during her tenure. According to the court documents filed in the District Court of Harris County, Toppins alleges that despite her exceptional performance and significant contributions to the firm’s business growth, she was subjected to differential treatment compared to her male and non-Hispanic counterparts. "Plaintiff accomplished a great deal of origination and a large book of business despite the firm not providing the minimum level of adequate support," the petition states.
Toppins asserts that her requests for necessary support were consistently ignored and that she endured a hostile work environment characterized by derogatory remarks and attempts to undermine her client relationships. She was reportedly the only Hispanic female partner among over 1,000 lawyers at the firm. In late summer 2023, Toppins raised formal complaints about this discriminatory treatment with Karthika Perumal, an equity partner serving as liaison between the local office and North Carolina headquarters. Despite assurances from Perumal that Human Resources would investigate these claims, Toppins contends there was no meaningful follow-up or resolution offered by HR.
The situation allegedly worsened after Toppins’ complaint as she experienced retaliatory actions intended to force her out of the firm. This culminated in December 2023 when her salary was abruptly halved from $350,000 to $175,000 while she was on business travel in Asia—a decision communicated by Barry Herman from the Firm Management Committee via video call. "If Plaintiff did not like it—the firm would be happy to 'transition her off,'" Herman reportedly stated.
Ultimately feeling pressured by these retaliatory measures and an unmet exit package agreement promising severance pay and future contract work opportunities—which Toppins claims were misrepresented—she resigned on January 31, 2024. Her lawsuit accuses Womble Bond & Dickinson of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act through race and gender discrimination as well as retaliation for protected activities.
Toppins seeks back pay with benefits, front pay with benefits, compensation for mental anguish along with punitive damages against Womble Bond & Dickinson. Additionally, she demands reasonable attorneys' fees under applicable Texas statutes.
Representing Wilka Toppins is attorney Mark G. Lazarz from Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP based in Houston. The case is presided over by Judge Nelson Cuero under Case ID: 2025-29319.