Sexual Assault & Abuse

Your Story Matters. Your Justice Starts Here.

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is any form of non-consensual sexual contact or behavior, often involving coercion, manipulation, or force. It includes acts such as sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, molestation, and sexual harassment. In many cases, perpetrators abuse their position of power or trust—such as teachers, coaches, clergy, medical professionals, or employers—to exploit victims.

Common settings for sexual abuse include schools, workplaces, religious institutions, sports organizations, families, and care facilities. Victims often experience long-term emotional trauma, PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

We are committed to holding individuals and institutions accountable. Our legal team helps victims of sexual abuse pursue justice through civil litigation, even when criminal charges are not filed. You may be entitled to financial compensation for the harm you’ve endured.

Our Firm’s Powerful Advocates:

• • Cari Simon, Harvard Law School alumna and Inaugural Fellow at the Harvard Gender Violence Clinic, is one of the Nation’s Top Title IX Attorneys representing survivors of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and sexual harassment in University and K–12 settings nationwide. Ms. Simon has been credited with the inclusion of stalking and dating violence in the definition of sexual harassment under Title IX, and her impact litigation ensured universities are responsible under Title IX for sexual violence at fraternity houses.
  • Olympias Iliana Konidaris (“Iliana”), Washington University Law School alumna, has over ten years of experience handling civil litigation and claims involving civil rights in New York City. Ms. Konidaris represents victims and survivors in Title IX proceedings at the K-12, university, and graduate and professional school levels. She also represents survivors of gender-based violence in the workplace and in cyber abuse cases. In 2020, Ms. Konidaris was appointed the Co-Chair of the New York City Bar’s Sex & Law Committee and was named a 2021 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Civil Rights Law.
  • Rachael Denhollander, Oak Brook College of Law alumna, became internationally known in 2016 as the first woman to pursue criminal charges and speak publicly against USA Gymnastics Women’s National Team doctor Larry Nassar, one of the most prolific sexual abusers in recorded history. As a result of Ms. Denhollander’s activism, over 300 women—including numerous Olympic medalists—came forward as survivors of Nassar’s abuse, eventually leading to his life imprisonment. Ms. Denhollander’s courageous tenacity and ongoing advocacy helped trigger a complete upheaval at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Ms. Denhollander was instrumental in helping secure a record-setting $500 million settlement with Michigan State University for Nassar survivors in 2018 and a further $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics in 2021.
  • Lisa Cloutier, Harvard Law School alumna, represents K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students who have experienced sexual assault, harassment, dating violence, stalking, or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in Title IX and civil cases. Ms. Cloutier is a former Supervisory Attorney at the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and a national expert with over fifteen years of experience in successfully obtaining survivors’ justice (financial and non-monetary settlements and accommodations). Ms. Cloutier also employs her experience as an internationally competitive triathlete in representing athletes in various cases. She advises athlete support organizations, including the Childhelp Courage First Athlete Helpline and #WeRideTogether.
  • Douglas Fierberg, George Washington University National Law Center alumnus, Mr. Fierberg’s first representation of a survivor of sexual assault goes back approximately 30 years to a lawsuit that sought justice against a young man (from a powerful D.C. family) who facilitated the sexual assault of a 16-year-old classmate by two men. Because of the defendant’s family wealth, he sought to avoid the lawsuit by leaving the country, and, later, was represented by the attorney who defended John Hinkley Jr., who shot and attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. With such resources and a bevy of lawyers, multiple motions to dismiss the matter were filed, the defense attorneys accused Mr. Fierberg of lying in open court (the judge ordered defense counsel to apologize), and the matter was vigorously defended – until the young woman received a substantial, confidential settlement. Since that time, Mr. Fierberg has represented survivors of sexual abuse (children, women, boys, and men) by celebrities, clergy, churches, professional athletes, teammates, athletic staff, classmates, fraternity members, teachers, school staff, health care providers (psychologists, chiropractors, staff), and numerous others. These clients, across the country and in matters filed in state and federal courts, have prevailed at trial, received settlements pre-suit and after the onset of litigation, obtained apologies and justice, and received tens of millions of dollars, enabling them to right a wrong and take back their agency.
  • Jacob Goodman, Vanderbilt University Law School alumnus, focuses his practice on severe personal injury cases, cases involving victims of sex abuse, and Title IX actions.

The National Title IX movement expertise, along with the sexual and gender violence training of Cari Simon, Iliana Konidaris, Rachael Denhollander, Lisa Cloutier, Douglas Fierberg, and Jacob Goodman make us uniquely effective counsel for survivors of sexual and gender violence in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, camps, scouting, group outings, and the workplace.