NSW lawyer sues for sexual harassment

A former Clayton Utz lawyer who is suing the top-tier firm for sexual harassment and defamation says she never made a formal complaint because she feared for her job.
Bridgette Styles, who was employed as a junior solicitor between August 2007 and December 2008, also said the firm is a hostile place for women to work.
The NSW Supreme Court heard on Tuesday that Ms Styles had become romantically involved with a colleague, Luis Izzo, but the relationship ended and a series of "altercations" followed.
"The allegations are essentially that Ms Styles felt sexually harassed in the workplace," her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, said.
She claims disparaging remarks were made to her at work functions and to other employees.
Another basis of her claim centres on photographs of Mr Izzo, which were displayed in an office near Ms Styles'.
The court was told Post-it notes had been attached to a montage containing various snapshots of him, with the words: "There is more to life than being ridiculously good looking. We hope you figure that out" and "I'm nice to look at".
The firm's barrister, Bruce Hodgkinson SC, said the images contained nothing of a sexual nature, nor was it alleged they were explicit.
However, Ms Chrysanthou, said the "context" of the montage was itself sexual, and the timing and placement were also factors.
She said her client told Mr Izzo about what had occurred and that she intended to inform the partner in charge of the workplace relations group, Joe Catanzariti.
Mr Izzo then "took it upon himself to make a file note" and gave it to Mr Catanzariti.
As a result, Clayton Utz suspended Ms Styles, subjected her to meetings in which they demanded answers, escorted her from the building and prevented her from accessing her emails, Ms Chrysanthou said.
The firm, which is fighting the allegations, ultimately terminated her employment.
In his defence submissions, Mr Hodgkinson told the court Ms Styles wasn't harassed or victimised, and that she didn't complain at the time.
But Ms Chrysanthou said "she never actually made a formal complaint because she feared for her job".
In a reply, Ms Styles flagged the firm's failure to ban a Facebook group called: "Clayton Utz Workplace Relations (Sydney) Whorebags", and says it is a hostile place for women to work.
It was alleged the workplace relations group had a culture which condoned sexually suggestive and lewd comments, sexual innuendo, jokes and pranks.
Ms Styles is also suing Mr Izzo and the firm for defamation over the content of the file note given to Mr Catanzariti.
The hearing, before Justice Lucy McCallum, is continuing.