Allegations of workplace discrimination and unpaid compensation have surfaced in a legal complaint brought by a former senior executive against her previous employer and its affiliated entities. The suit was filed by Laura Cunningham in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on June 5, 2026, naming NEAR Foundation, People 2.0 North America LLC, and WorkCo International LLC as defendants.
According to the complaint, Ms. Cunningham began her employment with NEAR US—a subsidiary of the Swiss-based not-for-profit NEAR Foundation—in September 2022. She later became employed through People 2.0 North America LLC and then WorkCo International LLC as part of changes in employer-of-record arrangements implemented by NEAR for its U.S.-based employees beginning in April 2023.
The filing outlines that Ms. Cunningham played a key role in leading teams to develop new programs within the NEAR ecosystem, raising significant funds during her tenure. However, the complaint describes an organizational shift at the end of 2023 following the ouster of then-CEO Marieke Flament after what is described as a campaign led by co-founder Illia Polosukhin and other male colleagues. This period reportedly saw an exodus of female senior leaders from NEAR.
To address concerns about further departures among female leadership, NEAR offered Ms. Cunningham a retention agreement on September 23, 2023. The agreement promised nine months’ severance pay and token vesting if she remained with the organization through January 31, 2024. The document states that Ms. Cunningham fulfilled this requirement but alleges that upon her separation from NEAR she was denied both the retention bonus and her agreed-upon end-of-year bonus amounting to $81,000.
The complaint asserts that after Ms. Cunningham raised concerns about workplace culture—including allegations of toxic masculinity under Polosukhin’s leadership—she experienced increased hostility at work and was excluded from decision-making processes relevant to her role as Head of Product for NEAR AI initiatives. It is further alleged that male colleagues were promoted over qualified female staff members while women were routinely sidelined or denied advancement opportunities.
Ms. Cunningham’s filing recounts several incidents illustrating what she describes as a hostile work environment for women at NEAR Foundation: public disparagements on company forums targeting female executives; insensitive social media posts; inappropriate content being shared during official livestreams; and lack of disciplinary action against those involved in such conduct.
After raising these issues internally with various executives—including Chris Donovan (COO) and Diogo Monica (NFC member)—and ultimately retaining legal counsel to assert her rights regarding unpaid bonuses and workplace treatment, Ms. Cunningham alleges she was retaliated against by having her employment terminated earlier than previously agreed upon.
The lawsuit brings multiple causes of action including breach of contract (for failure to honor both the retention agreement and year-end bonus), breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing under New York law, promissory estoppel (in case the court finds no enforceable contract), sex discrimination under both New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), retaliation under those same statutes as well as under New York Labor Law (NYLL), improper deduction of wages under NYLL §193, among others.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages including back pay, front pay, lost benefits; punitive damages; liquidated damages for willful violations; attorneys’ fees; interest; costs; as well as any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Ms. Cunningham is represented by Matthew Weiser of Lacuna Law PLLC based in Brooklyn, New York. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-3378.
Source: 126cv03378_Cunningham_v_Near_Foundation_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf