WiseTech’s Richard White could face legal action from his former lover over business deal’s collapse

WiseTech Global founder Richard White’s former lover says she will sue him over hundreds of thousands dollars she claims she lost on a business venture he allegedly promised to fund.

Beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan intends to pursue legal action against billionaire Richard White, claiming she lost hundreds of thousands on a business venture he allegedly promised to fund only to then end both their sexual and business relationships.

Ms Rogan has alleged Mr White provided advice and promised about $2m funding for her Bionik Wellness business in Sydney’s inner east, before abruptly locking her out of a $13.1m Vaucluse mansion he bought for her, and reneging on the business deal.

Mr White, the billionaire founder of $44bn ASX giant WiseTech Global, is pursuing a bankruptcy claim against Ms Rogan, who has alleged he sought a sexual relationship with her in exchange for investing in Bionik.

A deal for him to help Ms Rogan buy out her business partners, including her husband, collapsed after their relationship ended in November 2022. This occurred after, Ms Rogan alleges, she was set to buy another business partner out for about $1.8m using funds Mr White had allegedly promised.

In documents lodged with the Federal Court this week, Ms Rogan has signalled she will pursue Mr White for damages related to her allegedly having later been forced to sell her shares in Bionik at a loss.

“I now have legal representation and will be commencing proceedings in the District Court of NSW against Richard,” Ms Rogan says in an affidavit.

Richard White, Linda Rogan, Zena Nasser and the Vaucluse mansion Mr White allegedly bought for Ms Rogan.

Ms Rogan, who part-owns Laser Clinics franchises in Sydney, Queensland and New Zealand, says she defaulted on an agreement to buy out her Bionik Wellness partners and later lost $250,000 after selling her shares following the breakdown of her relationship with Mr White.

The billionaire, she alleges, implored her to buy out the partners and would then offer her funding and strategic advice to expand the business.

Ms Rogan says she had invested more than $360,000 to establish the Bionik outlet in Rose Bay and another $100,000 for equipment and machinery, and that business partner Samuel Lehain later sold his share of the Rose Bay location to a third party without her knowledge.

She claims she later sold her share at a “quantifiable loss of $250,000” because the third party also had bought the Bionik intellectual property and sought to negotiate the terms under which she could continue to use the brand at its Surry Hills location.

“I also lost the opportunity to grow and develop … the business and earn income and profit (from) it into the future. This loss is not readily quantifiable but would be the subject of expert evidence in proceedings I intend to commence against Richard for my counter claim.”

Bionik is a “science-based wellness business” which aims to give customers “the tools and technology to optimise how you feel and perform in your daily life,” its website says.

Members pay up to $150 per week for access to a hyperbaric chamber, infra-red sauna, float therapy or ice baths, as well as treatments like “Emscuplt”, described as a “leading non-invasive body contouring treatment”, and electromagnetic therapy to build muscle and burn fat.

Ms Rogan’s allegations are contained in documents filed with the Federal Court as part of the bankruptcy claim and obtained by The Australian. They include details of Mr White’s business advice to the wellness entrepreneur.

Mr White had, after being introduced to Ms Rogan by his girlfriend, Zena Nasser, discussed plans for him to inject funds into the business via text message, including offering her advice on business books to read to “build … business muscle”.

“I like helping strong founders make business boom,” the billionaire wrote to Ms Rogan, who said she had the “passion and drive” to make a success of her business, but just needed “a little help. I know I have more to offer than a shitty franchise owner”.

Mr White replied: “Yes you do … I’ll explain a few things and steps.”

He later said: “I’ve been thinking about the franchise model and how to make it viral – I need to do some planning.”

Ms Rogan alleges a business and marketing document titled “LR aesthetics strategy” was prepared by Mr White and contained a number of material agreements they came to, including a strategy to form new companies and eventually have the billionaire emerge with a 10 per cent stake in the overall business.

Under the “strategy/actions” heading in the document, Ms Rogan was to “make/develop … a list of good locations for expansion”. It also said “Richard to finalise debt repayment model”, and “Richard to finalise the set-up cost and operating cost model”.

Further tasks identified on the list included fit-out costs and suitable machines for purchase.

Ms Rogan was to be paid a $1m annual salary from the business, which helped her pay rent on the Vaucluse mansion that Mr White purchased for her and her children to live in.

Mr White is pursuing the bankruptcy action against his ex-lover over about $91,000 that she alleges Ms Rogan spent on luxury furniture for the Vaucluse house.

The billionaire is alleged to have used the nom de plume “Rick Leblanc” during an online auction to buy the mansion in September 2022, after which Ms Rogan spent money on the furniture only to be locked out of the house by Mr White’s lawyer two months later – after which he cut off any dealings with her.

A letter in the court documents from Mr White’s lawyer, Justin Betar, demanded that keys to the house be returned by Ms Rogan.

“We note that you have been providing services to assist with the renovation of the property at the request of … Richard White, for which you have been provided with compensation by Richard White for organising contractors and renovations being performed,” Mr Betar wrote on November 15, 2022.

“Our client is now making alternative arrangements and your services are no longer required and terminated effective immediately.”

Mr Betar also told Ms Rogan to refrain from dealing with builders, interior designers, Mr White and Ms Nasser.

Ms Rogan later successfully took court action for a garnishee order for about $91,000 from Mr White’s Westpac account in 2023, and he launched the bankruptcy action in August this year.

A spokeswoman for Mr White told The Australian: “Given this matter is currently before the court, Richard is unable to comment other than to say that the court proceedings relate to an unresolved commercial debt arising from various cases run by Ms Rogan against Richard, and costs and court orders made against Ms Rogan in those matters.”