Clutz case done in Styles

Mediation to commence in the sexual harassment case brought by solicitor Bridgette Styles against the big law shop Clayton Utz

McHugh: to mediate harassment and defamation actions against ClutzMichael McHugh is to mediate a sexual harassment claim by lawyer Bridgette Styles against her former employer, Clayton Utz.

In June Styles filed a claim in the Federal Court. She also has a defamation action in the NSW Supreme Court against Clutz arising out of a conversation between solicitor Luis Izzo and the head of the workplace group Joe Catanzariti.

There was an earlier round before Justice Carolyn Simpson, in which Clutz failed to get bits of Styles' proposed amended statement of claim struck out.

This was reported by Justinian in June.

Simpson said the firm's application was "inapt".

The mediation will involve both the sexual harassment and victimisation case as well as the defamation action.

Clayton Utz had not attended a conciliation conference in the Australian Human Rights Commission and opposed Styles' application for court ordered mediation at the first directions hearing.

Last month Clayton Utz filed an amended notice of appearance naming all of the partners at the time Styles' claim arose in 2008, including Grant Fuzi and the 17 partners who left the firm to establish the Australian offices of Allen & Overy earlier this year.

It's original notice of appearance, which did not name the partners, was found to be wanting.

The case is not the only sexual harassment action against the vast nationwide law shop.

Former employee Michael Mitchell alleges the firm sexually harassed and victimized him. A hearing is scheduled for November 22 in the Administration Decision Tribunal.