Slater and Gordon email scandal: Top law firm rocked by all-staff message

One of Australia’s most prominent law firms is embroiled in scandal after a “rogue email” was reportedly sent to the entire company.

The message, which both The Australian and The Australian Financial Review reported as being critical of senior executives at Slater and Gordon in addition to detailing the remuneration of its entire workforce, purported to be from the firm’s interim chief people officer, Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen.

Ruiz-Matthyssen’s name was listed as the owner of the Gmail account which sent the message, but chief executive Dina Tutungi said on Sunday she did not send the email, which has been reported to Victoria Police and cybersecurity experts from outside the company.

“The email was not sent by the interim chief people officer Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen. It contains many disparaging, false, and deliberately misleading claims,” Tutungi said in a statement reported by The Australian. “The information attached to the email, while unreliable, should never have been shared.”

Among the comments reported to have been shared were descriptions of senior staff including the phrases “senile and needs to retire”, “ruthlessly ambitious” and “lazy and unmotivated”.

On top of pay details of every one of Slater and Gordon’s 906 employees, the email also contained details of bonuses and the performance ranking of all staff. The firm, founded in 1935, became one of the first in the world to be listed publicly almost two decades ago and in 2023 was taken over by private equity in a deal reported to have been worth about $150 million. The email also criticised the actions and alleged plans of that new parent company, Allegro Funds.

Among Slater and Gordon’s notable alumni are former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who ascended to partner during her decade-long stint as an industrial lawyer, and Adam Bandt, federal MP and leader of The Greens.