Stella McCartney Executive Sues LVMH, Alleging Retaliation, Pay Discrimination, and Pricing Misconduct

Joseph & Norinsberg LLC has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of a senior U.S. executive who alleges he was retaliated against after raising concerns about unlawful workplace practices.

The complaint, brought by Andrew Dershaw, a longtime executive at Stella McCartney, names the brand, its parent company Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), and CEO Amandine Ohayon as defendants. Dershaw spent fourteen years building and leading the company’s U.S. wholesale division, overseeing more than $40 million in annual revenue across over 200 retail accounts.

The case has drawn attention from major legal and employment law publications, including Bloomberg Law and Law360.

Allegations of Retaliation for Raising Anti-Competitive Concerns

According to the lawsuit, Dershaw raised concerns in early 2025 regarding a pricing strategy imposed on U.S. retailers that internal communications allegedly described as “anti-competitive (and illegal).”

After refusing to participate in the conduct, he claims he experienced immediate financial repercussions, including a significant reduction in his bonus. The complaint further alleges that the company continued advancing the pricing strategy despite regulatory scrutiny in Europe over similar practices involving affiliated brands.

Unequal Pay and Wage Violations Claims

The lawsuit also outlines allegations of unequal pay and wage violations. Dershaw asserts that after a European executive was terminated, he assumed her full responsibilities but was neither granted her title nor comparable compensation, earning approximately half of her pay.

He further alleges broader disparities within the company’s leadership structure, claiming that European executives were consistently paid more and treated more favorably.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dershaw’s salary was reduced by approximately 30%, while compensation for European executives reportedly remained unchanged. Public filings cited in the complaint indicate that Stella McCartney increased her own compensation by approximately £221,000 during that same period.

Additional Allegations of Unpaid Wages and Workplace Retaliation

The complaint includes claims that the company failed to reimburse approximately $20,000 in approved business expenses. Dershaw also alleges that after raising concerns about compensation and workplace practices, he received his first negative performance review in fourteen years, which led to further reductions in pay.

According to the filing, the cumulative impact of these actions caused significant professional and personal harm, ultimately leading him to take medically prescribed leave in October 2025.

Legal Claims Under Federal, State, and Local Law

The lawsuit asserts multiple causes of action, including:

• Violations of the Equal Pay Act
• NYCHRL aiding and abetting claim against Ohayon
• Retaliation under New York Labor Law § 740 (whistleblower protections)
• Violations of NY Labor Law § 215
• Violations of the New York State Human Rights Law
• Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law
• Wage and hour violations
• Unlawful deductions violations

“LVMH and Stella McCartney built a system designed to extract maximum value from an American executive who gave them fourteen years of loyalty and successfully grew their U.S. business into what it is today, while ensuring he would never be treated as an equal,” said Bennitta L. Joseph, Founding Partner at Joseph & Norinsberg. “When Mr. Dershaw objected to conduct that their own executives described in writing as illegal, they punished him for it. That is not a misunderstanding. That is a choice. And it is exactly what this lawsuit is about.”

About Joseph & Norinsberg LLC

Joseph & Norinsberg LLC is a New York City-based employment law firm founded by Bennitta L. Joseph and Jon L. Norinsberg. The firm represents employees in workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower, wage and hour, and wrongful termination matters across New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Bennitta L. Joseph has been named to The National Black Lawyers’ Top 100 Black Lawyers in New York and has secured multi-million-dollar results for clients across a range of industries.