JLL ex-HR head Julie Skinner to sue company over termination after misconduct probe

JLL’s former head of human resources for Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, Julie Skinner, is taking legal action against the global real estate and investment management firm following her abrupt termination earlier this year.

Skinner, who held the regional HR role for nearly three years, alleges that she was dismissed despite providing “appropriate advice” to the company during a sexual harassment investigation. Her legal representatives at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said Skinner “denies any wrongdoing” and was told she was not under investigation prior to being terminated.

According to principal lawyer Mia Pantechis, Skinner was on annual leave when she was informed of her termination. “Our client will be taking legal action against JLL, including pursuant to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth),” Pantechis said, noting that Skinner had raised several concerns about how JLL handled the matter before being let go.

The dispute comes as JLL grapples with the findings of an external review conducted by law firm Clyde & Co into the company’s Australian operations. The review uncovered concerns about aspects of JLL’s internal culture and how the company dealt with certain employee complaints.

Following the findings, JLL said it is taking concrete steps to rebuild internal systems, from tightening oversight and clarifying accountability to reinforcing leadership capability and employee training across its offices. Among the recent leadership changes, Luke Billiau has been appointed as Interim CEO for Australia and New Zealand, alongside a new HR leader to reinforce the firm’s employee relations and investigative capabilities.

JLL Global Executive Board member Richard Bloxam acknowledged “significant shortcomings” in parts of the business and issued an apology to staff and stakeholders. “We are taking responsibility for these failings and implementing clear, necessary actions to rebuild trust,” he said.