AdNews report: Fishlock wants half a million dollars from Y&R over Palace coup in 2011 - first read about his betrayal in a CB Blog exclusive

Thumbnail image for Fishlock-Paul-SMALL.jpgAccording to an exclusive on AdNews, former The Campaign Palace chairman and ECD Paul Fishlock will seek around half a million dollars from Y&R when his lawsuit is heard in the NSW Supreme Court next month.

The lawsuit is in response to Fishlock's treatment by The Palace following its decision to replace him - without his knowledge - with Aussie expat Reed Collins, then the executive creative director at Leo Burnett, Chicago.

AdNews kindly reports that Fishlock only found out about what he believed to be a betrayal after reading an exclusive story on the CB Blog in January 2011.

22 Comments

For all they're worth said:

Go get them Paul! For too long this has become a standard practice for gutless, unethical agency management who feel comfortable stabbing in the back the very people who generate the ideas who bring the dollars in: THE CREATIVES! Go and squeeze them for absolutely all they're worth and let it be a lesson for all of them!

D said:

The witness list will be compulsive viewing, particularly Channel 10’s new golden boy Russel Howcroft explaining his management style.

Roy said:

Half a million. Blimey. That would buy a few sherberts.

Also Roy said:

Lol. I once found out an agency was replacing me through chatting to a mate (sitting at a recording session) that had been asked if he'd work with my then art director.

revenge said:

Good luck Paul...teach them a lesson.

Gladys said:

Unfortunately this isn't about Paul and WPP - it will be, as always, a global message to any miscreants "don't take us on in the Courts - because we will smash you".

it's a trick out of Mafia 101 - send the message hard and make it as tough a lesson as you can.

If MS/WPP could cut Paul's ears off.........they would! Simply to send a message to the WPP world.

WPP SoP said:

Didn't the same thing happen when Jeff Clulow was axed from JWT and replaced by Simon Collins? There is no originality left in advertising.

The red Ferrari or yellow Ferrari, sir? said:

@6:59, it's been done before and WPP lost. Somebody got a very nice house and car out of it. It's great to see these narcissistic companies who think they can do whatever they damn well please forced to follow standard employment law. Kind of humbling for them, 'oh, we have to follow the law now'.

And if you want to take on the big guys, you can do it without a lawyer in a civil court. You simply request that the company can not have legal representation as it you can't afford it and it would bias the outcome.

Do some digging around, it happens quite frequently. You stand in front of a judge and it's just you sticking to your facts while a spluttering idiot tries to concoct all kinds of shit. And if you lose, it's worth watching them squirm. Especially when everything goes down on record.

Chapeau, Paul.

ANDY said:

Good luck you might even get the midget on a plane for that amount.

Watching With Interest said:

That seems like a very modest amount to sue for.

Furthermore, it's itemised, is mostly for unpaid entitlements and only claims $20k for hurt and damage. In other words, what gives it a strong chance of succeeding is it doesn't look like an artificially bloated, wildly ambitious and unrealistic (ambit) claim.

Which of course only confirms what those of us who've met Paul already know: He's a thoroughly decent and nice man.

Melbourne Creative said:

I think an Advertising Union isn't too far away.

How often have you heard of someone being retrenched because "the posion is no longer required by the agency" - only to find another person hired in the very same position weeks later.

No other industry puts up with the scruple-less and immoral behaviour of employers like this one.

Bring it on... where do I sign.

Anarchy said:

Yep,

It's ad when unions have to be formed to protect the industry's most valuable asset (its people), but they've been taking the piss for too long.
In many places, 60 hour weeks have become the rule rather than the exception.
If clients want work, they simply have to (re)learn to pay for it.

madsheela said:

Go Paul. Best wishes for a successful outcome.

Never been fired said:

Of all the awards you ever won, this is the big one.
Hope this Judge loves you as much as the other award judges .

Yep, it's endemic said:

Yep, Clulow was shafted and he sued and he won. Hey, it happened to me twice already - once when the client rang and told me (and put a stop to it which saw some massive back-pedalling by the bosses afterwards) and then again when the head hunter rang and someone called out to the MD across an open plan office that they were on the phone for them (and that person incidentally is still working as a GM for, guess who, Y&R in Qld! - How Crofty is that??)... go get em Pauli!

Shafted Many Times said:

This is the most interesting story on the Blog in ages. Keep us informed on dates and developments, Lynchy.

Exit strategy said:

The worst thing about advertising isn't the 'manipulation' of the public for a brand's sales...it's the treatment of the people who work in advertising.

All you can hope is that at some point the pr***s in our industry get delivered a big bag of ugly karma. A lot of bags will be required.

Pay said:

You betray, You pay. It's as simple as that. Go Paul.

Good guys sometimes win said:

One interesting postscript to the Jeff Clulow v JWT saga is that Jeff did work for WPP again, despite lightening Sir Martin's wallet a smidge.

I have no idea if his case went to court or was settled beforehand though. Lynchy, perhaps an article on previous employment claims and why they were or were not successful would be a good idea?

Jeremiah said:

Ego, Integrity and Respect. A lot of No1 and not much of the other. How-Crofty indeed! Go Paul

ES said:

Go for it Paul and good luck!

EX WPP said:

more great press for Y&R

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