Former PwC partner, forced to quit by troubled firm, fighting back in court

Richard Gregg is a specialist partner in research and development advice and has worked at the firm for the past decade.

The NSW Supreme Court granted him an injunction on Wednesday over PwC’s decision to retire him.

PwC announced on July 3 it was “exiting” eight partners, including Mr Gregg, for what it described as “professional or governance breaches”.

The company said it investigated the handling of confidential Treasury information and past failures in professional, ethical or leadership responsibilities.

The investigation identified a number of examples where professional standards were breached with respect to misuse of confidential information or other matters reviewed by the Australian Taxation Office.

PwC said the investigation also identified a “failure of leadership and governance to adequately address the matters, either at the time or whilst the matters were under investigation by the Tax Practitioners Board or ATO”.

Mr Gregg was given notice of PwC’s findings against him and the company began a process under its partnership agreement to remove him from the partnership.

Chief Judge in Equity, Justice David Hammerschlag, is due to hear the matter on July 27.

PwC declined to comment.