On Tuesday January 18, Page Six reported a pending settlement in the lawsuit filed by NYC against L’Officiel USA over unpaid wages for freelance workers. Page Six wrote that a proposed settlement is in works whereby “L’Officiel USA will arrange payment for all of the amounts due” to be made within five days of settlement.

On Thursday, WWD reported the sale of L’Officiel to Hong Kong-based financial services company AMTD International. The sum of the deal has not been disclosed. AOC will report out those details separately.

With regard to to payment of freelancers and the NYC lawsuit, L’Officiel’s Board of Directors issued a statement: “L’Officiel’s 100-year history of employing writers, editors, stylists, and photographers shows our strong dedication to fashion journalism. We are committed to cooperating with the [New York City authorities] and to supporting freelance talent in the U.S. and around the world. We intend to lead the way to meaningful change across the industry.”

WWD asked for confirmation of the freelancers lawsuit settlement from the City of New York in reponse to rumors and reported no response as of January 20, 2021

Lawsuit Background

On December 7, 2021 Anne of Carversville took the position that we would post no further content from L’Officiel magazines worldwide, until the lawsuit between New York City and L’Officiel USA over not paying freelancers working on the publication was settled.

To the best of my knowledge, AOC is the only fashion media resource who took that firm position after notice of the lawsuit and months of no response from L’Officiel USA and Global regarding the situation hit the media in December 2021.

Stefano Tonchi’s Right Action for Freelancers

AOC was determined to stay the course after L’Officiel’s Consulting Global Chief Creative Officer Stefano Tonchi stepped down in solidarity with the freelancers, until the dispute was settled.

In an industry not known for noble gestures, I want us to all be aware that Tonchi, the former EIC at Conde Nast’s W magazine, took action swiftly to support the unpaid workers.

The unpaid bills at issue in the L’Officiel USA lawsuit with the City of New York happened before Tonchi joined L’Officiel Global to create “brand strategy across its 31 editions worldwide, [launching] new franchises and multiplatform initiatives, and [providing] creative direction on special projects including the brand’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.”

AOC Featured Photographers Caught Up in Our Decision

AOC’s positionin this problem became more complicated when photographers who literally consider AOC to be a wonderful fashion family — their words, not mine — weren’t getting their work in any L’Officiel magazine worldwide posted. In one case, the work is connected to a photographer for whom we expended much free time to create his archives historically. He deserved them, and I was happy to do it.

To be honest, the fallout for photographers with whom AOC is very supportive hadn’t been on my mind when I took a decisive, uncompromising view of the situation. But it came back to haunt me as the days went by.

Thankfully, this lawsuit is in the final settlement and negotiation stage, based on statements from xxxx this week.

Previously: NYC Sues L'Officiel USA for Not Paying Freelancers On Time or Ever AOC Fashion

Note from Anne December 7, 2021: As a result of this NYC lawsuit and learning about L’Officiel USA’s pattern of not paying freelancers, AOC will no longer promote any fashion stories or lifestyle posts associated with L’Officiel USA magazines until there is a resolution to this lawsuit. We will research this alleged pattern and practice in other L’Officiel magazines worldwide and not post any further materials associated with L’Officiel magazines until we understand both the scope and the organizational, corporate structure that governs L’Officiel media.

Below is a summary of key points in a press release from the Office of the Mayor of New York City, which filed suit against L’Officiel USA on December 1, 2021.

The Freelance Isn't Free Act is a local New York City law passed by the New York City Council in 2016 that protects the labor rights of freelance workers. The bill was enacted on May 15, 2017 and is now the basis for a new lawsuit filed by New York City ’s Law Department and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) against L’Officiel USA, the American subsidiary of the French-owned global media company.

The lawsuit was announced by outgoing New York City mayor Bill de Blasio on December 1, after its filing in New York County Supreme Court.

NYC ’s Freelance Isn ’t Free Act, the first law of its kind in the country, gives freelance workers the legal right to written contracts, timely payment, and freedom from retaliation. The Law also established a Court Navigation Program as one avenue to assist freelancers in getting paid and accessing other resources, but it also authorizes New York City to file cases against businesses with a systemic pattern and practice of violating the Law.

In this first court case derived from NYC ’s Freelance Isn ’t Free Act. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York County Supreme Court, alleges that L ’Officiel has “engaged in a pattern of failing to pay freelancers on time or at all, including writers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers and illustrators.”

Related: New York City Sues L’Officiel Magazine for Not Paying Freelancers New York Times