Law360: SCOTUS Leaves Title VII Split on Unpaid Workers
October 6, 2025 – Law360 reports today that the Supreme Court declined to review Wells v. Texas Tech University, leaving unresolved an important question in civil rights law: whether unpaid workers are protected from discrimination and harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Dr. Wells alleged that Texas Tech professors Samuel Prien and Lindsay Penrose sexually harassed and bullied her during her time as a student and research assistant, and later retaliated by undermining her startups and having her removed as a mentor in 2022. She also claimed that Prien misused her companies’ confidential data and deprived her of royalties by licensing related patents without consent.
The district court dismissed her case in 2024, and the Fifth Circuit affirmed in 2025, finding that unpaid mentors lacked the protections of Title VII.
Dr. Wells’ petition asked the Court to reconcile conflicting federal rulings that determine who qualifies as an “employee” under Title VII. In some jurisdictions, unpaid interns, researchers, and volunteers can seek redress for harassment and retaliation; in others, they cannot.
Although the Court’s decision leaves this disparity intact, Dr. Wells’ case brought national attention to the millions who perform meaningful work without pay – and to the urgent need for reform that ensures all workers, paid or unpaid, enjoy equal dignity under the law.
William A. Brewer III, counsel for Wells, said in a statement to Law360 that his client “is appalled that the Supreme Court declined review for herself and the many others who are left unprotected.”
He said, “Title VII protections must extend to unpaid workers. Dr. Wells’ stand against Texas Tech gave voice to millions of unpaid workers. Her efforts underscore a problem that must be remedied.”
Read more: https://www.law360.com/articles/2396307/justices-skip-unpaid-texas-tech-mentor-s-retaliation-suit
Brewer Foundation Announces Partnership with Texas Southern University Debate Team
October 2, 2025 — The Brewer Foundation proudly announces a partnership with the Texas Southern University (TSU) Debate Team, a world-class program from one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Renowned for academic excellence, the TSU Debate Team will bring its internationally recognized debaters into the heart of the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), where they will serve as judges during the competition’s 25th anniversary season.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and now jointly administered with New York University (NYU), the IPPF is the only global debate competition that invites high school students to compete in both written and oral debates on pressing issues of public policy. For a quarter century, the IPPF has given students worldwide the chance to sharpen their critical thinking, research, and advocacy skills while tackling subjects of global consequence.
“The IPPF was founded to connect the best young minds with the issues that shape our world,” said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. “The Texas Southern University Debate Team is a championship program, recognized for its competitive excellence. The team's involvement with IPPF is a plus for the tournament and its participants.”
The competition begins annually in October, when teams submit qualifying round essays. The top 64 teams advance into a single elimination written debate tournament, volleying essays via email. Judges evaluate each round of written debate, narrowing the field from 64 teams to 32, then 16, and finally to the “Elite Eight” teams. Those eight teams earn an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City in April 2026 to compete in the IPPF Finals, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded the $10,000 grand prize and the coveted “Brewer Cup.”
As part of this new partnership, TSU Debate Team members will collaborate directly with the NYU CEDA Debate Team and its director, Will Baker, to evaluate written debates from IPPF teams around the globe. This season, IPPF teams will contend with one of the most complex issues of our time: how to ensure global access to a quality education.
“We are thrilled to welcome Texas Southern University’s debaters as judges,” said Baker, who also serves on the IPPF Advisory Board. “Their reputation for excellence will enrich the IPPF experience for competitors worldwide.”
The announcement follows TSU’s recent triumph at the 35th annual International Forensics Association World Championship in South Korea, a victory that reaffirmed its place among the elite debate programs in the world.
Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts, coach of the TSU Debate Team, reflected on the partnership: “We are honored to join the Brewer Foundation and NYU in this effort. Our students are eager to share their skills and talents and to give back, mentor younger debaters, and uphold the intellectual rigor that defines competitive forensics.”
As the IPPF celebrates its 25th year, this partnership with the TSU Debate Team underscores its mission: to inspire the next generation of thinkers and leaders by uniting diverse voices in pursuit of ideas that matter.
About the IPPF and the Brewer Foundation:
The IPPF was founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and is now jointly administered with New York University. It is endorsed by leading forensic agencies, such as the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, the International Debate Education Association, the Impact Coalition, Associated Leaders of Urban Debate Leagues, and the National Debate Coaches Association.
The Brewer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. With offices in New York and Dallas, the Foundation has achieved widespread recognition for its efforts to create, fund and manage a variety of educational outreach programs.
Visit the IPPF at www.ippfdebate.com or www.instagram.com/ippfdebate.
Kansas City Business Journal: Court Rejects Polsinelli’s Motion to Arbitrate Sexual Harassment Case
September 25, 2025 – The Kansas City Business Journal reports today that a federal judge in D.C. has denied a motion from Polsinelli law firm to dismiss a sexual harassment case and to compel arbitration.
As reported, “[former Polsinelli partner] Julia Rix filed suit in September 2023 in Washington, D.C., federal court against Kansas City-based Polsinelli and two senior partners in its New York office, Dov Scherzer and Gabriel Yomi Dabiri. She claimed that Scherzer and Dabiri, who were in positions to play an influential role in her advancement, subjected her to repeated sexual harassment and that she was fired after filing a complaint.”
The Journal reports that Judge Amir Ali denied Polsinelli's motions on September 18, finding that Rix's claims were legally sufficient to support a cause of action. He also ruled that the arbitration clause cannot be enforced because it would violate the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. The result: the lawsuit will continue and be litigated publicly.
“This ruling is important,” said William Brewer III, Rix's attorney and a partner at Brewer Attorneys & Counselors. “It affirms that victims of sexual harassment are entitled to the public scrutiny that comes with the judicial system. Julia has shown courage in standing up to Polsinelli.”
Read more here.
ABA Journal Reports on Key Developments in Polsinelli Lawsuit
September 24, 2025 – The ABA Journal reports today on key developments in the case of Brewer client Julia Rix against the Polsinelli law firm and two of its former partners.
As reported by the ABA Journal, “A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has refused to toss claims or to compel arbitration in a $20 million lawsuit alleging that Polsinelli retaliated against an international corporate attorney after she reported sexual harassment by two influential partners.”
U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali of the District of Columbia ruled for the plaintiff in a September 18, 2025, opinion.
The ABA Journal reports, “Ali said Rix doesn’t have to arbitrate her sex harassment claims because of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which bans enforcement of agreements to arbitrate future claims involving sexual assault and harassment. He also said Rix plausibly alleged sexual harassment under the D.C. Human Rights Act and infliction of emotional distress under D.C. common law.”
In a statement to the ABA Journal, Brewer partner William A. Brewer III said the decision on arbitration “affirms that victims of sexual harassment are entitled to the public scrutiny that comes with the judicial system. Julia has shown courage in standing up to Polsinelli. Her decision to do so is now translating into protection for her and others.”
The article follows reporting in the National Law Journal, Law 360, and Bloomberg Law.
Read more here: “Sexual harassment suit against Polsinelli continues, without arbitration, after judge’s ruling,” ABA Journal
Law360, Bloomberg Law, and the National Law Journal: Federal Court Rules Against Polsinelli in Sexual Harassment Case
September 19, 2025 — Law360, Bloomberg Law, and The National Law Journal report that Polsinelli PC and two former partners cannot compel arbitration or trim claims in a $20 million sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by Brewer client Julia Rix. On September 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali ruled that Rix plausibly alleges her claims and is not required to arbitrate the dispute.
“This ruling is important,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to Rix. “It affirms that victims of sexual harassment are entitled to the public scrutiny that comes with the judicial system. Julia has shown courage in standing up to Polsinelli. Her decision to do so is now translating into protection for her and others.”
Originally filed in D.C. Superior Court in 2023, the lawsuit alleges that two male Polsinelli partners subjected Rix, a former attorney in the firm’s D.C. office, to repeated sexual advances, unwanted physical contact, and professional retaliation after she rejected their overtures.
Rix claims the partners tied access to business opportunities to her compliance with their demands, sabotaged her performance review, and influenced the firm’s decision regarding her career. Ultimately, she alleges she was terminated shortly after reporting the misconduct. Her claims span sexual harassment and retaliation under the D.C. Human Rights Act and Title VII, as well as intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Polsinelli sought to dismiss the case, compel arbitration, and apply Missouri law. The Court rejected each defense. Regarding arbitration, Law 360 writes that "Judge Ali found that Rix is not required to arbitrate her sexual harassment dispute, noting that the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act bars pre-dispute arbitration agreements from covering sexual assault or harassment disputes."
Judge Ali writes, “…the test for whether the EFAA applies is not whether claims are ‘inexorably intertwined’ or ‘rise or fall’ together; it is whether the claim is or ‘relates to’ a sexual harassment dispute. And on that test, the claim of retaliation for reporting sexual harassment is plainly covered.”
Brewer Client Wholesale Payments Secures Injunction in First Wave of Texas Business Court Trade Secret Cases
September 12, 2025 — Wholesale Payments, a Texas-based financial services firm, secured a Temporary Injunction today from the newly expanded Texas Business Court. The order of the Court for the Eighth Division enjoins the defendants — all former insiders at Wholesale Payments – from diverting merchant accounts. The high-stakes case is among the first heard under the Business Court’s new jurisdiction over trade secret disputes.
Originally filed August 18, 2025, in the 96th Judicial District of Tarrant County, the lawsuit accuses former independent sales partners of breaching Portfolio Purchase Agreements — deals worth over $1 million meant to safeguard client portfolios and relationships. In breach of those agreements, the defendants allegedly conspired to launch Goal Line Payments, LLC, a direct competitor based in Collin County, Texas. Wholesale Payments seeks more than $10 million in damages, disgorgement, and permanent injunctive relief.
“This is an important development because those entrusted with a company’s clients owe a duty of loyalty that cannot be abandoned for personal gain,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for Wholesale Payments. “Our client believes defendants executed a deliberate scheme to raid its workforce and misappropriate its trade secrets.”
On September 2, 2025, the case was removed to the Texas Business Court. The court’s expanded jurisdiction, effective just one day earlier under House Bill 40, now includes trade secret disputes. Created in 2023, the Business Court system handles high-dollar commercial litigation with speed, consistency, and subject-matter expertise.
Brewer added, “We moved quickly to obtain protection in the Texas Business Court. Its expanding jurisdiction is well-suited for complex trade secret disputes.”
Founded in 2006, Wholesale Payments is a Texas-grown leader in electronic payment processing. It operates nationwide with more than 80 employees and a sales agent network exceeding 300.
According to the complaint, Goal Line Payments, LLC was launched while the defendants remained bound by restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements. The suit asserts claims for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, and conspiracy under Texas law.
Wholesale Payments is also pursuing related claims in Florida. A separate lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Merchant Lynx Services and several of its executives orchestrated a corporate raid by luring Wholesale Payments’ employees, diverting clients, and misusing confidential business information to fuel a competing operation.
Law360: $3,000 An Hour? See How Brewer Redefines Legal Value
August 28, 2025 – Law360 recently profiled Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors partner William A. Brewer III and the bold business model behind his firm.
The article highlights how the firm raised its top rate to $3,000 per hour – one of the highest among boutique firms – not to drive away clients, but to encourage innovative fee structures that reward results.
Brewer tells Law360: “Honestly, we haven’t had any resistance at all, which tells me that we could probably set my rate and rates for others higher than they are, because I’m not hearing any complaining.” Brewer tells Law360 that, at the moment, about half the firm’s work is still billed hourly.
Brewer demonstrates how innovative fee structures – such as contingency or performance-based arrangements – can generate returns far exceeding traditional hourly rates.” The piece also underscores Brewer’s commitment to talent, with first-year associate salaries now starting at $300,000.
The article positions Brewer as a firm redefining value in legal services – proving that small firms can deliver big-firm impact while embracing creative approaches to client partnerships.
Read the article.
JPMorgan Chase Partners with Brewer Foundation to Teach Future Leaders Program Students Financial Literacy
August 25, 2025 — The Brewer Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with JPMorgan Chase. Beginning this fall, JPMorgan Chase professionals will provide quarterly financial literacy workshops to students in the Foundation’s Future Leaders Program (FLP).
The workshops will equip students with essential knowledge to strengthen their understanding of financial concepts and build skills that support success in both their personal lives and future careers. Sessions are scheduled for: October 11, 2025, November 8, 2025, January 10, 2026, and March 14, 2026.
William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation, said: “Financial literacy is more than understanding dollars and cents. It provides students with the tools to achieve financial success. By joining forces with JPMorgan Chase, we are helping our future leaders on their path to the American dream."
This collaboration reflects the Brewer Foundation’s ongoing commitment to developing well-rounded leaders through academic enrichment, mentorship, and real world skill building.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, the FLP is an academic and leadership development program that benefits more than 200 students, ages 12-18, from urban communities within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) at no cost. Through year-round academic courses, leadership training, and exposure to a wide array of cultural programs, the FLP helps prepare its “future leaders” for success in college and beyond.
To learn more about the Future Leaders Program and other partnerships, visit our FLP website.