K&L Gates Sued for Firing Manager Soon After Disability Leave
K&L Gates faces a lawsuit for firing a manager 32 days after her return from disability leave.
Why it matters: The case spotlights persistent risks for BigLaw around managing disability accommodation and termination. In-house counsel and legal HR must assess their compliance and culture to avoid similar claims.
- Bonnie Carter alleges wrongful termination under the ADA after returning from approved disability leave.
- Carter claims her work environment under CIO Harpreet Suri was toxic, contributing to her health issues.
- Upon return from leave, her job duties were reduced by 85%, focusing on only two projects.
- The firm offered her a four-week severance after eliminating her position in November 2025.
K&L Gates, a leading BigLaw firm, is facing a suit filed by Bonnie Carter, its former Manager of Endpoint Engineering, who alleges she was wrongfully terminated 32 days after returning from a short-term disability leave in late 2025.
- Carter's complaint accuses the firm of discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as fostering a hostile work environment.
- She contends her medical conditions—generalized anxiety disorder and irritable bowel syndrome—developed due to a toxic workplace atmosphere driven by Chief Information Officer Harpreet Suri, who allegedly remarked, "Everyone she has encountered in the IT department is generally lazy and gets paid too much."
- Between January and September 2025, Carter says she reported these concerns to IT Director Kurt Johnson multiple times with no meaningful follow-up.
- After taking disability leave from September 10 to October 6, 2025, Carter returned to find her responsibilities had been slashed by 85%, limiting her to just two projects. She received notification via Microsoft Teams on November 7, 2025, that her position was eliminated, and was offered four weeks’ severance.
- The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, back pay, front pay, and reinstatement.
Carter's timeline at K&L Gates spanned from March 2023 to her termination in November 2025, during which she reportedly received positive performance reviews in December 2023 and December 2024. Industry analysis notes this case as emblematic of BigLaw's continued struggles around disability accommodation and workplace culture compliance.
By the numbers:
- 32 days — Time between Carter's return from leave and her firing
- 85% — Reduction in Carter's job responsibilities after medical leave
- 4 — Number of times Carter reported her health concerns to IT leadership
Yes, but: K&L Gates has not publicly responded to the lawsuit, and legal proceedings remain unresolved.
What's next: Details on court dates or further proceedings are pending.