How Christmas party cost senior EY partner Leonard – Business News
A high-flying partner at EY was fired from his $850K function after he propositioned a feminine colleague at a Christmas party, and was later accused of assault in a Sydney bar.
Leonard Nicita was terminated from his function as a senior partner within the firm’s Transaction Tax staff in November 2023, based on a determination from Justice David Mossop within the ACT Supreme Court final month.
The first incident occurred at a 2022 Christmas party which had a “Miami Vice” dress-up theme, and resulted in a feminine partner making a grievance to management, the choice stated.
During the party, as Nicita’s managing partner described it, he “made comments to the complainant to the effect that you thought she was beautiful, you wanted to sleep with her and, when the complainant said she was married, you noted that most of your affairs are with married women”.
Leonard Nicita was terminated from his function as a senior partner within the firm’s Transaction Tax staff in November 2023. linkedin
When he was notified of the grievance two weeks later, Nicita stated that he “was totally shocked and relayed [to her] my recollection of what occurred, believing it to be innocuous”. In proof to the court docket he denied he had stated he wished to sleep with the complainant, however stated he had advised they exit for dinner.
When she had stated that she was married, he requested her whether or not she was fortunately married.
When she advised him that she was, he stated, “ah yeah, but you will be surprised since being single that I have probably been with more married women than other single women”.
Nicita’s boss advised him he was “very disappointed with his behaviour” and that it was “completely unacceptable from anybody, let alone a partner, let alone a senior partner, let alone a senior partner [who] has just re-joined the Firm”. (Nicita had earlier had a stint at EY from 2013 to 2015.)
Nicita was accused of propositioning a feminine colleague at a Christmas party, and was later accused of assault in a Sydney bar. spritnyuk – stock.adobe.com
The 50-year-old obtained sanctions together with 4 per cent of income (33,969.78 USD) being stripped from that 12 months’s pay, and was advised he was on his “first and final warning against further instances of inappropriate behaviour”. He was additionally advised to apologise to the complainant.
The subsequent incident occurred in August 2023 after Nicita had attended a fundraising operate for the Sydney University Rugby Club.
Some colleagues moved on from the membership to proceed ingesting at Dean & Nancy cocktail bar in Wynyard, and Nicita joined them along with his girlfriend, the choice stated.
Having paid the invoice of $1,555.29 USD, which he claimed as an expense from EY, Nicita then found his jacket was lacking.
Nicita’s boss advised him he was “very disappointed with his behaviour” and that it was “completely unacceptable from anybody, let alone a partner, let alone a senior partner.” Shutterstock / ArDanMe
While making an attempt to find his jacket, he acquired into an altercation with bar workers that led to a charge of common assault.
CCTV footage of the incident, based on the choice, confirmed Nicita “pushing the bar manager with his hand and then moving forward and bumping him with his chest”.
When his boss turned conscious of the charge and questioned Nicita three months later, Nicita argued the incident was “innocuous” and the assault was “merely a push”.
The managing partner determined to terminate Nicita’s place for “Just Cause” beneath the partnership settlement.
Nicita launched legal motion in opposition to the choice, claiming his boss had breached the partnership settlement and looking for damages for these breaches.
He argued the bar incident “did not involve conduct as a partner of the firm but instead occurred in his private life,” and “at the time of the termination, he had given notice of his retirement from the partnership”.
He additionally claimed the choice was not made in good religion as a result of his boss might have put him on “garden leave” as an alternative.
In his October determination, Justice Mossop rejected Nicita’s arguments and dismissed the proceedings, ordering him to pay prices to EY.
