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Fiona Lynch reaches secret agreement with Timothy Quirk over ‘toxic’ workplace dispute

The celebrated interiors boss has privately settled a legal dispute brought by a ex-employee who accused her of running a hostile work environment and forcing staff to work late nights with no lunch break.

Fiona Lynch has settled a court case with a former senior employee.
Fiona Lynch has settled a court case with a former senior employee.

Esteemed interiors boss Fiona Lynch has privately settled a legal case brought by a former senior staff member who accused her of running a hostile workplace, engaging in threatening behaviour, and forcing employees to work long hours with no lunch break.

The Australian last week revealed Ms Lynch, whose eponymous firm has the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria as clients, had become embroiled in a Federal Court legal dispute with former senior designer, Timothy Quirk.
While Mr Quirk claimed he was sacked for making legitimate complaints about a harsh office environment, Ms Lynch alleged he had acted aggressively during an altercation in her office lobby, calling her “f..king toxic” and telling her “everyone hates you”.

Ms Lynch has been responsible for designs at the National Gallery of Victoria. Picture: Fiona Lynch Studio
Ms Lynch has been responsible for designs at the National Gallery of Victoria. Picture: Fiona Lynch Studio

But on Friday, Ms Lynch and Mr Quirk reached a confidential settlement following a mediation process before Federal Court registrar Amelia Edwards in Melbourne.

“The parties wish to confirm the matter has been resolved confidentially and they will be making no further comment,” a statement released on behalf of both parties reads.

According to Mr Quirk’s claim, filed in November last year, he was sacked from his $130,000 role as senior designer at Ms Lynch’s high-profile interior design firm, Fiona Lynch Office, because he made multiple complaints about the inappropriate work environment.

He alleged he told Ms Lynch about the “extreme stress caused by the need to work late nights with no lunch breaks” in order to meet tight deadlines.

Ms Lynch won the Eat Drink Design Awards’ Best Restaurant Design for Kiln at Sydney’s Ace Hotel. Picture: Fiona Lynch Studio
Ms Lynch won the Eat Drink Design Awards’ Best Restaurant Design for Kiln at Sydney’s Ace Hotel. Picture: Fiona Lynch Studio

However, in her defence, Ms Lynch claimed Mr Quirk acted inappropriately during a conversation about his work performance in August last year.

She claimed that after she had informed Mr Quirk of his “unsatisfactory” efforts – including failure to complete work on time in relation to construction of the multi-residential Saint David building in Fitzroy – Mr Quirk “became highly agitated and slammed his coffee cup on the table multiple times”.

She said she moved the conversation to the lobby of the building to “avoid disrupting or upsetting other employees”.

Mr Quirk began “yelling” at her, “abusing and threatening her, saying ‘how f..king dare you accuse me of not doing my job’; and also that ‘everyone hates you’”, according to Ms Lynch’s defence.

Both parties denied acting inappropriately. The matter was settled before any claims could be adjudicated.

Ellie Dudley
Ellie DudleyLegal Affairs Correspondent

Ellie Dudley is The Australian's legal affairs correspondent covering courts, justice and changes to the legal profession. She edits The Australian's weekly legal newsletter, Ipso Facto, and won Young Journalist of the Year in 2024 at both the Kennedy Awards and the News Awards.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/fiona-lynch-reaches-secret-agreement-with-timothy-quirk-over-toxic-workplace-dispute/news-story/7437b38d5d6ed3d001482e778a728cb7