‘Serious consequences’: Staff outrage at Slater + Gordon over email leak of salaries

A top law firm is scrambling in the wake of a “malicious” all-staff email leaking the pay of its entire workforce and criticising key executives.

A top law firm in Victoria has been left scrambling in the wake of a rogue all-staff email that detailed the pay of its entire workforce and lambasted key executives.

The “malicious” email – BCC’ed on Friday morning to all Slater + Gordon staff revealed the salaries, bonuses and performance ratings of its 906 employees.

An unknown person sent the email, falsely using the name of outgoing people officer Mari Ruiz Matthyssen. Ms Matthyssen denies she sent the email.

It also detailed knowledge of internal HR and management issues, describing the firm as a “textbook case of dysfunction”.

It also included scathing criticisms of senior figures, including chief executive Dina Tutungi, and accusations that private equity firm Allegro Funds planned to “gut the place” after acquiring the majority of shares of Slater + Gordon in 2023, in a deal worth approximately $150 million.

“Heads are rolling, and what remains is a skeletal crew barely keeping things together. The endgame? A polished-up shell to be sold off at the right price. Grim, but predictable,” the email reportedly said.

Slater + Gordon, Ms Tutungi and Ms Ruiz-Matthyssen herself have strenuously denied that she sent the email. In a statement released on Monday night through her lawyers, Ms Ruiz-Matthyssen said she had been “publicly vilified” since the news broke.

Legal giant Slater + Gordon has been left scrambling in the wake of a rogue all-staff email that detailed the pay of its entire workforce and lambasted key executives.

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“The manner in which this matter has been handled over the past four days has caused immeasurable damage and distress to me personally and professionally, as well as to my family,” Ms Ruiz-Matthyssen said.

“I did not send the email. A cursory examination of the email and its attachment gave a clear indication as to the likely identity of the sender. I have engaged lawyers and I am in the process of taking legal action.”

A culprit is yet to be identified, though the firm suspects the missive was sent by a disgruntled current or former staffer, The Australian reports.

The matter has been referred to forensic experts and Victoria Police, who confirmed Cybercrime Squad detectives are assessing a report of “unauthorised access” affecting the legal firm.

“Enquiries are underway to determine the circumstances and impact of the incident,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

“As the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Outgoing chief people officer Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen. Picture: LinkedIn

Slater + Gordon chief executive Diana Tutungi. Picture: LinkedIn

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In a statement over the weekend, Ms Tutungi described the email as “malicious” and “an invasion of privacy”, and said it had been sent “by someone impersonating a staff member”.

Slater + Gordon understands “the upset and distress this has caused, and we are conducting a forensic investigation to find out how this occurred”, Ms Tutungi said.

“I want to assure all of our employees that they will be provided every support possible,” she continued.

“The email was not sent by the interim chief people officer Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen.

“It contains many disparaging, false and deliberately misleading claims. The information attached to the email, while unreliable, should never have been shared.”

Among the criticisms of senior figures at the firm reportedly made in the email were the phrases “ruthlessly ambitious”, “lazy and unmotivated” and “senile and needs to retire”.

A culprit is yet to be identified by Slater + Gordon, though the matter has been referred to Victoria Police and forensic experts.

Slater + Gordon is “fully committed to supporting our staff through this time, and meeting all our legal and regulatory obligations, including the reporting of privacy breaches and any necessary compliance steps”, Ms Tutungi said.

“We are committed to upholding the strong culture and values of this firm, and we will not allow this act to distract from the important work we do for our clients,” she said.

To deal with the fallout, the firm will set up a process in the coming weeks by which concerned staff can raise concerns about pay parity.

According to the spreadsheet attached to the email, salaries at the firm ranged from Ms Tutungi’s purported $690,000 to a Melbourne legal assistant paid $22,916.

One former Slater employee told The Australian there were “several people on the same level” who were “earning considerably less than colleagues”.

“The leaking of salary information is going to have serious consequences come pay negotiation and bonus time,” they said.

Originally published as ‘Serious consequences’: Staff outrage at Slater + Gordon over email leak of salaries