Ex-Naftali Manager Accuses Execs Of Pregnancy Discrimination
A former senior project manager with Naftali Group sued the developer and two of its executives over allegations of pregnancy discrimination.
Claire Gondon, assigned to the firm’s Williamsburg Wharf project, filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York in September against the company, executive vice president of construction Michael Witek and executive vice president of operations Eva Malachi.
Malachi and Witek were part of a small team of employees Miki Naftali brought with him from Elad Group to found his eponymous development firm in 2012.
In the complaint, Gondon alleges that in January, Malachi informed her that the firm planned to “wind down” her position — just four days after she told her, Witek and another executive that she was pregnant. Three months later, Gondon claims she was fired.
“Ms. Gondon was a high-performing employee who deserved to be recognized for her dedication and accomplishments, not sidelined after disclosing her pregnancy and plans to take maternity leave,” Gondon’s attorney, Valdi Licul, wrote in a statement. “We look forward to pursuing accountability from Naftali Group and the executives involved.”
A spokesperson for Naftali pushed back against Gondon’s allegations in a statement, arguing the decision to terminate her “was made for legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons and with ample notice long before the company was aware of her pregnancy.”
“The company is committed to fair, lawful employment practices and stands by its decision regarding the former employee’s termination,” according to the statement. “As this is an active legal matter, we will vigorously defend ourselves and not comment further at this time.”
Gondon joined Naftali in 2022, after three years working on JDS Development’s Brooklyn Tower. She described her role at Naftali as overseeing the finances behind the company’s sprawling five-tower project along the Williamsburg waterfront, expected to wrap up in 2029.
In the complaint, Gondon claims that in 2025, Witek “showered [her] with praise for her work” and indicated that the firm had plans to promote her to lead another project. Five months earlier, Naftali acquired 800 Fifth Avenue with plans to demolish the existing structure and replace it with luxury condos.
In January, Gondon says she told Witek and Malachi that she was pregnant and planned to take maternity leave starting around July. Four days later, Gondon alleges Malachi emailed her, writing that her duties were “expected to wind down in Q1” and that the firm was “unable to guarantee work beyond that period.”
After that, Gondon alleges she was “systematically excluded” from communications about Williamsburg Wharf until she was officially terminated in April. At the time, she alleges Witek told her that the company didn’t have any work to assign to her.
A month later, the firm hired a man to take over her role, according to her complaint.
Read more
New York’s top developers unfazed by turmoil: rankings
Residential
South Florida
Naftali launches Viceroy-branded Fort Lauderdale condo project
The top mistake that business leaders make, according to Miki Naftali
