A waitress who worked at Soho House's exclusive Soho Warehouse in downtown Los Angeles alleges that a supervisor at the posh club and hotel drugged and raped her, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.
The woman, who introduced herself as Jane Doe, said in her complaint that she was “subjected to repeated sexual advances and unwanted physical contact” by one of her supervisors, Leonard Marcelo Vichique Maya, immediately after starting work as a waitress at Berenjak, the club's restaurant, in September 2025.
Doe is suing Vichique Maya, Soho House, Soho House Los Angeles and Soho Warehouse for sexual harassment, retaliation and other claims.
“This is such an egregious example of callous corporate indifference toward workplace sexual violence that anyone can experience,” her attorney Nick Yasman of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers said in a statement.
Representatives for Soho House and Vichique Maya were not immediately available for comment.
Doe has further alleged that Vichique Maya made “numerous comments” about her appearance, proposed that she be his “meeting partner,” and told her that “she would be pregnant by now” if they had met before, all within earshot of her supervisors and colleagues.
After two weeks on the job, Doe said she reported Vichique Maya's conduct to two male supervisors, including Soho House's floor manager and food and beverage director, the complaint states, but “neither took any semblance of corrective or investigative action.”
According to the lawsuit, Doe claims that despite “her pattern of harassing and complaining behavior,” the company failed to address her alleged misconduct. “
She claims her behavior escalated after a “team bonding” work event on September 13, where Doe said she became disoriented after drinking with supervisors and co-workers, eventually blacking out and waking up naked in Vichique Maya's apartment.
“Paralyzed and speechless even as her consciousness slowly returned, the plaintiff was sentenced to simply watch in horror as [sic] “MARCELO repeatedly raped her inanimate body,” the lawsuit states.
The next day, Doe said she informed her floor manager that Vichique Maya had “sexually assaulted” her.
She said her general manager “confirmed” that he “appeared to be taking advantage” of her during the work event, telling her that “these things happen between coworkers.”
When he proclaimed that he could no longer work with Vichique Maya,” he said, the general manager dismissed his concerns by telling him, “I have a restaurant to manage; “I can’t let it exploit me.”
Despite informing three managers that she was “raped,” Doe said she was continually scheduled to work shifts with Vichique Maya during which he repeatedly sexually harassed her.
In December, Doe filed a complaint with Soho House human resources and was assured that an investigation would be opened and “immediate corrective action” would be taken.
However, during the investigation, Doe said she was placed on indefinite leave while Vichique Maya continued to work. A month later, he was informed that the company had completed its investigation and found that his rape report was “not corroborated” and that he “would not be disciplined.”
In February, the plaintiff claimed she was forced to leave her job.
One of the first exclusive members-only social clubs, Soho House debuted in London in 1995 and quickly became the retreat of choice for celebrities and the wealthy. It expanded globally with 48 houses in 19 countries.
It attracted high-profile investors, including Ron Burkle through his Yucaipa investment fund.
In 2021, the company filed for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, but has faced financial challenges. .
Last year, Soho House went private and was sold to a group of investors, including Apollo Global Management and actor Ashton Kutcher, who also joined its board, for a valuation of $2.7 billion.
