Former Norton Rose Fulbright partner Tom Martin is suing the Australian arm of the global firm in the Federal Court, alleging it deceived him into halting a Fair Work claim over his dismissal.

The Fair Work claim could have been a game-changer for partners in professional services firms by seeking the benefit of workplace protections laws introduced by the Gillard government in 2009. But Norton Rose challenged the jurisdiction of the Fair Work Commission to hear the claim, in circumstances Mr Martin alleges were deceptive.