Sexual misconduct allegations can bring significant legal, reputational and operational consequences for businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations — especially when these matters unfold in the public eye.

Sensitive Investigations & Risk Management

Balancing legal obligations, fairness and public accountability.

Sensitive Investigations & Risk Management

Overview

Munger, Tolles & Olson represents clients in high-profile, high-stakes matters involving sexual misconduct allegations, including litigation, internal investigations, compliance and public response. We are trusted advisors to leading universities, Fortune 100 companies, boards and executives navigating these complex and deeply sensitive matters.

We lead investigations involving students, faculty, employees and executives, often in parallel with media scrutiny and regulatory oversight. Whether advising on an independent review or coordinating with law enforcement or government agencies, we approach each matter with discretion, diplomacy and strategic focus.

Our team defends institutions in class actions, Title IX claims, public records lawsuits and tort litigation involving allegations of sexual harassment or assault. We have defeated efforts to obtain internal investigatory records, obtained early dismissals of due process and discrimination claims, and compelled sensitive employment disputes into arbitration. We also routinely advise clients on policy development, training and compliance frameworks that support safe, lawful environments and withstand legal challenges.

Clients turn to us for our ability to handle the legal and human complexities of these cases — from internal discipline proceedings to systemic reviews. We’ve represented the University of California in a class action brought by students disciplined for sexual misconduct, a major film studio in gender discrimination claims and a Fortune 100 company investigating harassment by a senior executive. Our work is grounded in experience, empathy and a commitment to upholding fairness and due process for all involved.

With a team that includes veteran litigators, former prosecutors and leading investigators, MTO brings legal precision and practical insight to one of the most challenging issues facing institutions today. We help clients act decisively, communicate effectively and protect their people, values and mission.

Experience

Sexual Misconduct and Title IX

MTO handles sensitive and sometimes high-profile internal and government investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct and defends colleges and universities in Title IX litigation and government enforcement actions. Representative matters include:

Representing Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including media and entertainment, tech, retail, health care and financial services in sensitive internal investigations and government enforcement actions, including by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Conducting independent internal investigations into sexual misconduct at independent boarding and day schools and colleges and universities and advising on disclosure obligations and corrective actions. In some instances, these investigations culminated in publicly released reports.

Representing colleges, universities and academic medical centers in Title IX investigations by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.

Defending the University of California in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of all students across all 10 UC campuses who were disciplined by the University for sexual assault or sexual harassment in the past five years. The lawsuit alleged that the University denied these students due process. MTO obtained dismissal of the lawsuit at the pleadings stage.

Defending colleges and universities in Title IX lawsuits filed by complainants who allege the school was deliberately indifferent to sexual violence or a hostile environment and by respondents who allege the school discriminated against them based on their gender in investigating and/or imposing discipline for sexual violence.

Other Misconduct and Harassment

MTO advises on sensitive matters involving allegations of serious misconduct of a non-sexual nature, including fraud, bribery, bullying, abusive conduct or discrimination. MTO conducts internal investigations and advises on litigation risk, crisis communications and corrective actions for a range of clients in various industries, including major motion picture and television studios and professional sports franchises.

MTO represented major motion picture and television studio in internal investigations of misconduct on set and during major productions.

MTO represented the University of California in an internal investigation into allegations that the head coach of the University of California, Berkeley’s women’s swimming team engaged in abusive and discriminatory conduct against dozens of athletes for more than two decades. In January 2023, the University announced it was parting ways with the coach after the publicly disclosed report concluded she had violated the University’s policies against discrimination and bullying.