The United States Soccer Federation governs soccer across the entire United States of America. It is the employer of the players on both the women’s and men’s national teams.

Players on the women’s team contended that US Soccer paid them less than it paid those on the men’s team and offered them lower success bonuses than it offered to players on the men’s team.

The players on the women’s team sued US Soccer for pay discrimination in violation of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. But the district court granted summary judgment to US Soccer, saying the women’s claims could not go forward to trial.

Faced with this catastrophic judgment – and with the future of fairness in the women’s sport in jeopardy – the players turned to Mayer Brown to take over the appeal.

We turned the case around. The Mayer Brown team submitted powerful briefs on behalf of the players. It also convinced the US government, the US Men’s National Team, and many others to file amicus briefs in support of the female players. And it worked closely with the media and members of Congress to put pressure on US Soccer to settle the case.

Thanks to Mayer Brown’s strategic approach, the parties agreed to settle for $24 million in backpay damages – and change the future of the game. We secured a guarantee of equal pay going forward for all future games, including the World Cup.

As part of this work the USWNT players announced a new collective-bargaining agreement with US soccer, ensuring equal pay for the women’s and men’s teams for the first time. The players’ success in this fight has prompted other teams and federations across the globe to follow suit and fight for equal pay.