Herman Law

Myths about sexual assault cause real harm. They silence survivors, discourage reporting, and shift blame onto the people who were hurt.

The truth is: most survivors know their perpetrator. Not fighting back doesn't mean consent. Coming forward takes courage, and false reports are far rarer than people assume. There's also no "right" way to respond to trauma. Delayed reactions are just as real and valid as immediate ones.

If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse, you may have legal options. Herman Law has exclusively represented survivors of sexual abuse for over 25 years. Visit HermanLaw.com to learn more.

Herman Law attorney Parker Hall recently received this letter from Christopher, a client he represented in a childhood sexual abuse case. We are grateful to Christopher for sharing his experience, and proud of the care Parker brings to every survivor he represents.

If you or someone you love was sexually abused as a child, contact our team today for a free, confidential consultation. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen.

Meet Lauren Pennisi — Lead Attorney, New York Office

Lauren is an accomplished attorney with over 15 years of litigation experience and a passion for fighting for justice for survivors of sexual abuse.

Before joining Herman Law, Lauren specialized in plaintiff's medical malpractice and personal injury matters at several prestigious personal injury law firms in New York City. Her extensive plaintiff-side background gives her a strong foundation for advocating fiercely on behalf of survivors seeking accountability.

Lauren has been recognized as a New York Metro Super Lawyer since 2022 and as a Rising Star from 2015 to 2020. She is also a published author — her chapter, "The Wrongful Death Case from a Plaintiff's Perspective," appears in the fourth edition of Medical Malpractice in New York, published by the New York State Bar Association.

We're proud to have Lauren's commitment, compassion, and dedication to survivors on our team.

On Tuesday, May 19th, dozens of Herman Law clients gathered at the New York State Capitol in support of foster care legislation A4362-B / S.9778-A.

This bill would establish that counties cannot contract away their duty to protect children in foster care or escape liability due to negligence when a child in their legal custody is abused.

Our clients shared their experiences and spoke about why passing this bill is so important to them and to children across New York.

We are incredibly proud of their courage and honored to represent them.

Watch the full press conference here:

Survivors Speak Out at the New York State Capitol in Support of Foster Care Legislation On Tuesday, May 19th, dozens of Herman Law clients gathered at the New York State Capitol in support of foster care legislation A4362-B / S.9778-A.This bill ...

Meet Carina Nixon — Research & Writing Attorney, California Office

Carina is an experienced attorney with a deep-seated dedication to social justice and a commitment to combating all forms of sexual abuse and violence. At Herman Law, she primarily focuses on writing appellate briefs and reviewing and revising moving papers across cases at all stages of the litigation process.

Before joining Herman Law, Carina served as a Senior Attorney at CHILD USA, where she worked to eliminate child sexual abuse and exploitation through strategic legal and policy advocacy. She developed extensive expertise in sexual abuse law through writing amicus briefs and legal publications focused on emerging and newly enacted anti-sexual abuse legislation — giving her a uniquely informed perspective on the evolving legal landscape survivors navigate. She began her career as an insurance defense attorney, where she gained valuable litigation experience that deepened her understanding of the strategies used against survivors.

We're proud to have Carina's expertise, advocacy experience, and commitment to survivors on our team.

The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to a proposed $800 million settlement on behalf of survivors of clergy sexual abuse, one of the largest church abuse settlements in U.S. history.

The proposed settlement follows more than five years of litigation led by Herman Law founder and nationally recognized trial attorney Jeff Herman. Herman Law represents a significant number of the approximately 1,300 survivors included in the agreement, and Jeff has played a central and critical role in driving the litigation and advocating for survivors.

Learn more: https://hermanlaw.com/new-york-archdiocese-agrees-to-800-million-proposed-settlement-for-sexual-abuse-victims/

Meet Mercedes Robertson — Associate Attorney, New Jersey Office

Mercedes is an experienced attorney with a background in both criminal and civil litigation.

Before joining Herman Law, Mercedes served as a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, Division of Criminal Justice, where she prosecuted criminal trials and appeals. Her work focused primarily on crimes involving child sexual abuse material, and she represented the State in appellate matters before the Appellate Division and Supreme Court involving child sexual abuse, human trafficking, Megan's Law, and sexual assault. She also brings civil litigation experience from her time at a national insurance defense firm, where she represented clients in professional liability and employment matters — giving her insight into the defense strategies survivors face.

We're proud to have Mercedes' passion, experience, and dedication to survivors on our team.

Sexual abuse in schools is not an isolated problem. Research estimates that 1 in 10 K-12 students will experience sexual misconduct by a school employee before they graduate; and most incidents still go unreported.

When a school fails to prevent or address abuse by a staff member, it may be held legally responsible. Survivors may have civil legal options, including the ability to pursue action against the institution itself.

At Herman Law, we exclusively represent survivors of sexual abuse. Our mission is to help survivors heal by giving them a voice through civil litigation.

If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse in a school or another institutional setting, contact our team today for a free, confidential consultation. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen.

Meet Arlen Litman-Cleper — Lead Attorney, California Office

Arlen is a passionate advocate for survivors of sexual abuse with over a decade of litigation experience in federal and state courts throughout California.

Before devoting his practice to representing survivors, Arlen handled both plaintiff and defense work in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and business litigation, representing everyone from individuals to multi-national corporations. He has tried numerous high-stakes cases to verdict throughout California, obtaining successful results for his clients. This extensive trial experience and diverse background give him the strategic insight and courtroom skills to effectively fight for survivors seeking justice and hold institutions accountable. In his first year with Herman Law, Arlen recovered close to $20 million on behalf of his Clients.

We're proud to have Arlen's experience and dedication to survivors on our team.