Updated: Chris Laws, current MD of Enigma, accused of sexual misconduct in 2018 by Ella Campbell
This article references allegations of sexual harassment. If you or someone you care about needs support, please contact 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.
Chris Laws, managing director of independent creative agency Enigma, has been publicly accused of alleged sexual misconduct in the workplace at his own company in 2018. Laws has strenuously denied the allegations.
His accuser, Ella Campbell went public with the allegations on LinkedIn over the weekend, after previously documenting her past experience while working for the Laws at his agency, Born & Raised.
Mumbrella at this time is only reporting on the very public allegations made by Campbell and is not suggesting that Laws has committed the harassment and illegal activities complained of by Campbell. This will only be known if the matter proceeds to a Court and a determination is made.
Campbell alleged in her post that his previous behaviour was a contributor to his departure from WPP in 2013.
WPP is mentioned in the post, however at the time Moon was a STW Group agency, as this was prior to the merger in 2016. Campbell acknowledged this amendment to Mumbrella.
Campbell wrote: “On IWD, I decided to come clean. My abuser is Chris Laws. He has harassed and illegally touched other women, to the point where he got fired by WPP. Then he created a business where he could do it all on his own.”
Campbell also stated that she will be taking Laws to court. It is unclear at this moment the nature of the proceedings she may take and the allegations she will make.
“See you in court, Lawsy. I have nothing to lose, you and Chris Harris took it all away from me. I’m sure your partner deserves more than an abusive, sexual criminal.”
Harris departed Born & Raised in 2020, the agency he and Laws founded, after he left Moon in 2013, as listed on his LinkedIn.
Born & Raised was later acquired and merged with Enigma, where he is now managing director.
Moon was closed by STW in 2015, with its services being merged into Ikon Sydney. STW then merged with WPP in 2016.
Laws declined to comment when approached by Mumbrella regarding the allegations.
Enigma told Mumbrella that alongside strenuously denying the allegations, Laws will not be making any further comment as this is now a legal matter.
“Enigma is unable to comment as Chris was not employed with the company in 2018”, the company further told Mumbrella.
Chris Harris was also contacted regarding the allegations, however has not responded at the time of publishing.
WPP has been contacted for further comment.
Updated: 28 March, 2022
It is not known if Campbell’s reference to Mr Harris in the Linkedin post also suggests that Campbell is making the same allegations against Harris as this is not evident from the post. Whatever Campbell’s allegations may be, Mumbrella is not suggesting that any form of harassment or illegal activity was committed by Harris. The truth of any allegations against Laws and / or Harris will only be known if the matter proceeds to a Court and a determination is made.
Ms Campbell’s LinkedIn post has since been deleted by LinkedIn.
Linkedin
We have always reported fairly and openly, especially with information that is on the public record. Mumbrella will be following this story closely.
I support women who are victims of sexual abuse, and believe the creative industry does need a shake up. However, I find it deeply concerning that anyone (guilty or not) can be accused publicly in a business forum of a criminal offence, before it has seen before court or reported to police. We need to consider the impact to all of us, if anyone can simply call you out amongst your business peers without following due (legal) process. Linkedin is not the place for justice. Mumbrella this is unacceptable for you to cover what is essentially gossip at this point.
This is a much bigger issue than two people, it’s a slippy slope, that has big implications for all us.
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