Fabio Fior was fined $10,000 for lambasting a builder working on his home’s renovation
The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal has publicly reprimanded HWLE partner Fabio Fior over several rude texts he sent to a builder working on his home, reported the Australian Financial Review.
The major projects specialist had hired a builder to conduct significant renovations on his house. In 2023, he sent the builder approximately 100 texts expressing his displeasure with the builder’s work; the texts were described as “discourteous and abusive”, according to AFR.
Fior also used his work email to issue a default notice and to say he was bringing a formal challenge to the builder’s licence.
The builder’s solicitor requested that all correspondence be coursed through its office; Fior sent nine emails over a four-day period and six more a few days later. Fior then threatened the builder again through text reportedly because the solicitor was not responding.
Fior said he would publicise on Instagram a list of supposed defects he had discovered in the builder’s work. He also said he would render the builder bankrupt.
In a message seeking $200,000, Fior told the builder to “run and hide”, per a snippet published by AFR.
A law firm representing the building issued Fior a cease and desist notice ordering the lawyer to stop communicating with the builder and his employees and to communicate only with their solicitor. Fior used his work email to tell the law firm that he would print the notice and use it as “TP”, which the tribunal took to be a reference to “toilet paper”.
The ACT Law Council filed misconduct charges, and the tribunal labelled Fior’s messages to the builder as “insulting, harassing and threatening”. Fior conceded that his behaviour had brought the profession into disrepute.
Thus, the tribunal declared Fior guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. In addition to the public reprimand, the HWLE partner was slapped with a $10,000 penalty and ordered to pay the Law Council’s expenses.
Fior presently practises with HWLE’s Commonwealth government group. He also seconded with Power and Water Corporation (NT) and Defence Legal.
His clients have included the Airport Development Group, DCOH and Datapod. He was also once a partner at Squire Patton Boggs and at MinterEllison.
Fior is currently a division council member of the Property Council of Australia’s NT division, according to his LinkedIn profile.
