Probably not the same Utz. What do we know? Mmmm chips
Allen & Overy set up shop in Australia by taking on 14 lawyers from Australian firm Clayton Utz.
The key hire was Grant Fuzi, who is now at the center of a dispute with his former firm.
According to LegalWeek, the move breached a AUS$700,000 (US$652,470) non-compete payment he had received.
Now the firm is suing.
A&O’s response and the other lawyers in the move after the jump.
An A&O insider insisted that the firm was unconcerned about the prospect of legal action but “disappointed” by Clayton Utz’s alleged move.
“We’re pretty confident of how this is going to turn out,” said the source.
A spokesperson for the magic circle firm added: “We’re entirely happy with our position and that of all our Australian partners, who have our full support. We’re focused on the incredibly positive response from our clients and from high quality lawyers wanting to work for Allen & Overy in Australia.”
According to the Law Shucks Lateral Tracker, the other lawyers with their practices and locations are:
| Reede, Michael | Corporate | Sydney |
| Goumenis, Sonia | Bank Finance | Sydney |
| Popic, Karolina | Bank Finance | Sydney |
| Denisenko, Jason | Corporate | Sydney |
| Stals, Andrew | Corporate | Sydney |
| Flannery, Angela | Bank Finance | Sydney |
| Parshall, Michael | Corporate | Sydney |
| Kenavan, Aaron | Corporate | Sydney |
| Robertson, Chris | Bank Finance | Sydney |
| Wilkie, David | Corporate | Sydney |
| Irwin, Barry | Corporate | Sydney |
| Wilkes, Peter | Corporate | Perth |
| Koch, Grant | Corporate | Sydney |
| Huinink, Jason | Bank Finance | Sydney |
| Campion, Meredith | Corporate | Perth |
| Simpson, Geoff | Corporate | Perth |
It’s always difficult to believe that lawyers don’t contemplate or understand the terms of their own employment agreements.
So what do you think, did he screw the pooch or did he just decide to roll the dice that he wouldn’t have to pay? Do you think A&O will indemnify him for the payment?
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