Former JLL Australia and New Zealand chief executive Dan Kernaghan has launched legal action against the global real estate giant, alleging he was wrongfully dismissed after almost two decades of service.
As reported by the Australian Financial Review, court documents filed with the Federal Court reveal that Kernaghan is seeking over $6 million in damages for lost earnings and bonuses. He claims the firm’s New York head office breached his workplace rights when it summarily terminated him over his handling of a workplace complaint involving a senior manager.
The dispute stems from an internal investigation into a “consensual relationship” complaint lodged against a Victorian-based manager in June. The probe reportedly found that while some allegations were substantiated, others were not. After consulting internal and external legal advisors, Kernaghan decided to retain the manager under strict conditions—including a demotion, forfeiture of a bonus, and a formal acknowledgment of inappropriate behaviour.
However, following an internal escalation to JLL’s global CEO, Christian Ulbrich, Kernaghan was instructed to reverse his decision and dismiss the manager. Just days later, Kernaghan himself was terminated, first via phone, then by email. The dismissal letter alleged that he had breached his employment contract and failed to act in the company’s best interests.
Kernaghan disputes these claims, arguing that JLL had “no proper basis” for the summary termination and that he would have continued in his role for at least another five years if due process had been followed.
The case adds to a growing number of legal actions facing JLL. Former HR head Julie Skinner and industrial agents Peter Blade and Greg Pike have also filed lawsuits, each alleging unfair dismissal linked to the company’s handling of separate workplace investigations.
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