Fired law firm partner to fight termination

A Perth-based law firm partner who was recently terminated by Clifford Chance following allegations of “serious misconduct” is disputing the outcome of the global practice’s internal investigation.

As reported last week (and first reported by The West Australian), global law firm Clifford Chance recently terminated one of its Perth-based partners following an internal investigation into allegations of serious misconduct.

In a statement provided to HR’s Leader’s sister brand, Lawyers Weekly, at the time, a firm spokesperson said that, upon receiving complaints of serious misconduct, the firm immediately suspended the partner and launched an internal investigation.

The now-concluded investigation, the spokesperson went on, “has resulted in the partner’s termination from the firm”.

The firm has also engaged specialist consultancy firm Elizabeth Broderick & Co, led by the former sex discrimination commissioner, to undertake a review of the firm’s workplace culture.

Mainstream media outlets subsequently named the terminated partner as Dr Sam Luttrell, who practised in the firm’s international arbitration group.

Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader are not aware of the details of the allegations and subsequent internal investigation and in no way suggest that the allegations against Luttrell are true.

In conversation with this brand, Luttrell’s solicitor, Martin Bennett, said he had been appointed to represent Luttrell “in dealing with the issues arising from the allegation and the conduct of the firm acting in breach of the partnership agreement by breaching confidentiality provisions – specifically to clients of Dr Luttrell”.

The firm’s partnership agreement, Bennett said, “has specific dispute resolution requirements that are being worked through at the moment”.

When asked if Luttrell has a response to Clifford Chance’s references to allegations of serious misconduct, Bennett said that the allegations are denied.

Luttrell was appointed to the global firm’s partnership back in early 2017.

In comments provided last week, the firm’s global managing partner, Charles Adams, said: “We deeply regret what happened and that our colleagues were affected. We’ve offered and continue to make available our full support to these colleagues.”

“I want to thank them for speaking up and to reassure everyone at the firm of our commitment to a workplace where they are respected and where misconduct of any kind is completely unacceptable and will be robustly addressed.”

Connie Heng, the firm’s Asia-Pacific regional managing partner, said at the time: “We recognise the gravity of the situation and are fully committed to learning from this experience and promoting a working environment where everyone is safe and respected, and where misconduct of any kind is called out.”

Clifford Chance has offices in Perth and Sydney and approximately 110 partners and lawyers Down Under.

A firm spokesperson said that Clifford Chance does not have further comments at this stage.