Lawyers who previously represented Titus Day in battle against Guy Sebastian could bring class action against Sony Music Australia
Sony Music Australia is facing a potential class action from former employees who are reportedly considering their legal options.
Lauren MacDougall from MacDougalll and Hydes Lawyers told The Sydney Morning Herald she had been approached by a number of women seeking advice in relation to claims of bullying and harassment during their time at Sony Music Australia.
She encouraged other men and women to come forward to see if there is scope for a class action.
MacDougall and Hydes Lawyers have indirectly taken on Sony Music before, having acted to get bail for Titus Day when he was accused of defrauding Sony artist Guy Sebastian out of $1.15 million.
Day and Sebastian worked together for over a decade, but parted ways in 2017.
Day is set to stand trial for embezzlement in 2022 and will be represented by a different law firm.
It’s been a massive few weeks of change and upheaval at Sony Music Australia.
Last week, it was revealed the company’s head office was intervening in the local operation, launching an investigation into harassment and bullying.
The investigation follows the April departure of vice president of commercial music, Tony Glover, who was accused of inappropriate behaviour. Glover denied the allegations.
The new investigation, however, is understood to have a much wider scope and is said to be unrelated to Glover.
It then emerged over the weekend that Sony Music’s corporate headquarters in New York had engaged external counsel to conduct the investigation.
And earlier this week, Sony Music’s longest-serving global employee, and CEO of the Australian outfit, Denis Handlin was dramatically sacked with little explanation offered.
Since then, Pat Handlin and Mark Stebnicki have also been placed on leave as the investigation continues.
TMN is not suggesting Denis Handlin, Pat Handlin or Mark Stebnicki have been accused of any wrongdoing.
Sony Music HQ has thus far declined to comment further on the unfolding story.
Read more: 5 questions that need answering after Denis Handlin’s exit