WASHINGTON — Democrats are buzzing about powerful party-linked attorney Marc Elias springing a mandatory arbitration clause on employees of his law firm — with insiders speculating about whether the firm has something to hide and accusing Elias of hypocritically limiting worker rights.
New York native Elias, 55, made headlines with his work on Hillary Clinton’s procurement of a dossier full of salacious gossip about then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016 — and his eponymous law firm, which he founded in 2021 and has dozens of employees, works primarily on behalf of Democrats and progressive causes.
The Elias Law Group’s new policy, which drew an internal protest letter from 42 subordinates, prevents employees from suing and includes a class-action waiver and non-disclosure agreement, according to the legal news website Above the Law, which first reported on the move.
“All, as a condition of employment…[Elias Law Group] is implementing an arbitration agreement that applies to all employees. The agreement implements an alternative to litigation for resolving employment-related disputes,” chief operating officer Jacqui Newman wrote on Dec. 19.
“Arbitration offers a confidential and cost-effective way to address issues, ensuring that both employees and the Firm resolve matters fairly and efficiently. You will receive the agreement from HR with your 2025 compensation memo by the end of this week. All employees are required to review and sign the agreement by December 30, 2024,” Newman wrote.
The ensuing protest letter, also published by Above the Law, decried the “sudden, unexplained reversal of policy” and objected to the changes being issued “with no notice and little explanation”
“Firm personnel have been given just over a week, during the winter holidays, to agree to this dramatic change in the terms of our employment,” Elias’ employees fumed. “And we have been offered no opportunity to provide any input or voice any concerns. No explanation for the urgency has been offered, and we can think of none.”
Days after the announcement, Elias mysteriously purged his once-vociferous X account — stoking further intrigue.
“I have stopped posting here. For pro-democracy news follow @DemocracyDocket and subscribe for free,” Elias informed his more than 816,000 followers.
Sources told The Post that Democratic insiders are perplexed about the implementation of the arbitration clause, which left-wingers loathe for its perceived benefit to bad bosses.
“Everyone is wondering why there is such an urgency to it,” said a Democrat who has worked with Elias in the past.
“It is especially bizarre to have sprung this on the staff in the week between Christmas and New Year’s.”
A second person, a senior Democrat with knowledge of the situation, told The Post that “it just doesn’t make sense to be so hypocritical as a top Dem lawyer unless there’s some big reason he wants to avoid litigation by his staff.”
The drama prompted the airing of pent-up criticism of Elias, whose firm describes itself on its website as “the nation’s largest law firm focused on representing the Democratic Party, Democratic campaigns, nonprofit organizations, and individuals committed to securing a progressive future.”
“Elias Law Group is all about Marc’s ego and not about the people who work there,” the Democrat who has worked with Elias said. “His lack of awareness and his lack of concern for entry and mid-level employees at his own firm is a scandal in itself.
“Everything Marc Elias does is about attracting notice to himself.”
“He’s a very smart guy,” the second source said, “but he has to be the smartest person in the room and is frankly an a–hole.
“If Marc won’t do the right thing here, it’s not only deeply hypocritical, he’s making a real headache for his clients, many of whom are leaders in the Democratic and progressive movements,” this person said. “Marc owes everyone an explanation for this suspect decision and timing.”
The Elias Law Group did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
