A former HWL Ebsworth partner is suing the firm’s boss, Juan Martinez, for $40,000 in equity payments and nearly two years’ worth of superannuation contributions that he claims he was owed but not paid.

Construction and infrastructure lawyer David Ulbrick alleged that his contract as a fixed-draw partner at HWL was akin to that of an employee, meaning he was owed the entitlements that come with that such as superannuation. Unlike in an equity partnership, where partners share in annual dividends, fixed-draw partners earn a salary.