MARCO BENATTI, the former head of WPP’s Italian business, arrived at the High Court yesterday to defend himself against allegations of breach of contract with the advertising giant.
Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, who did not appear in court, dismissed Signor Benatti this year, accusing him of financial irregularities, in breach of the terms of his consultancy contract with WPP.
Dominic Chambers, of Maitland Chambers, acting for Signor Benatti, said that his client was an employee at WPP, not a consultant, as WPP has stated. By trying to prove Signor Benatti’s position as an employee, the Benatti camp are alleging that his dismissal did not comply with Italian employment law.
At yesterday’s jurisdiction hearing, Mr Justice Fields heard Signor Benatti’s lawyers argue that a trial must be held in Italy. Signor Benatti went to the High Court hearing with a group believed to comprise his public relations consultant, personal assistant and a female friend. The hearing is part of what is likely to become a complex web of legal battles.
Signor Benatti has filed a lawsuit in Italy against WPP for wrongful dismissal and is claiming damages, and another — a criminal complaint for defamation — against Sir Martin.
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Signor Benatti’s lawyers said that their client had a number of company benefits, which allegedly suggest his role as an employee. These include being given a personal assistant, a driver, a credit card, an office and a WPP business card and e-mail address. Mr Chamber said that it would be “strange” for a consultant to have these benefits.
Although the judge seemed to acknowledge many points made, he also appeared to question whether he had enough evidence on how Signor Benatti was perceived at WPP.
The jurisdiction hearing is set to continue today.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in London, Sir Martin Sorrell was attending a Newspaper Society advertising conference, where he said that media owners should not be giving so much print or digital content away for free.