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Former PwC Australia partner launches defamation proceedings against the firm
A former partner of PwC, who successfully sued the firm over its attempts to force him into retirement, has now filed proceedings alleging defamation.
Miranda Brownlee
Richard Gregg, a former partner in PwC’s research and development team, has filed a claim of defamation and breach of contract against PwC and former acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins.
The claim, filed on Wednesday, 29 May, relates to public statements made by PwC following the tax leaks scandal. He alleges the statements made by PwC seriously harmed his reputation and caused him “substantial distress, embarrassment and hurt”, and economic loss, as first reported by The Australian Financial Review.
In his claim, Gregg alleges that the public announcements made by PwC falsely linked him to the tax leaks scandal when the firm’s attempted removal of him related to conduct from 2021.
He is suing for aggravated damages and economic loss relating to the alleged defamation and damages for breach of contract.
Last year, Gregg filed proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court after PwC Australia made a recommendation for him to retire.
Gregg was allowed to remain at the firm after the court found the consultancy giant had failed to identify its reasons and how it arrived at them in a notice requesting his retirement.
Stubbins had requested Gregg to go on special leave on 28 May last year, pending an internal review. He was told not to contact partners or staff, visit the premises, access the computers, or communicate with media.
The following day, Stubbins published a media statement announcing that PwC had commenced an investigation into the tax leaks scandal and as a result, had stood down nine unnamed partners.
In early July, PwC released a media statement announcing that it had reached conclusions in its investigation into the handling of confidential Treasury information and past failures in professional, ethical or leadership responsibilities.
It announced that eight partners had exited or were in the process of being removed from the partnership. It also stated that Gregg had been given notice of PwC’s findings against him, and a process had started under the partnership agreement to remove him from the partnership.
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