Gillard's union scandal a 'sideshow': law firm

The head of law firm Slater & Gordon says the continued raising of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's role as a union lawyer and allegations from the 1990s that her then boyfriend misused union money are a "sideshow".

"We've really said all we want to say on the public record about that," managing director Andrew Grech told reporters after the company's annual general meeting in Melbourne on Thursday.

Mr Grech said the company had nothing to add to public statements that it had already made.

"So far as we are concerned, it is a sideshow relating to events that occurred nearly 20 years ago and has no relevance."

Mr Grech said that if the proper authorities, such as the police or industrial court, were to inquire into the allegations, Slater & Gordon would co-operate in the investigation.

The federal opposition has been calling for Slater & Gordon to release full internal documents relating to the alleged misuse of AWU funds by Ms Gillard's then boyfriend and union official Bruce Wilson.

It says Ms Gillard, who was a partner at Slater & Gordon at the time, may have further questions to answer in relation to the matter.

Ms Gillard established the AWU's Workplace Reform Association in 1992 while she was working for Slater & Gordon.

She resigned from the firm following an internal review of the AWU matter.

Mr Grech said he was "not an actor" in the matters that occurred 20 years ago.

Mr Grech rejected the suggestion that the matter was affecting Slater & Gordon's reputation.

"Our reputation is well and truly intact, and I'm not aware of any serious journalist or any serious public commentator who has cast any aspersion on the conduct of anyone who is present at Slater & Gordon," he said.

Slater & Gordon has said that it is not able to release any files or documents in its possession without client approval, because to do so would breach its professional obligations.

The company has rejected any suggestion that it has withheld or delayed the release of files in its possession to any former clients.

AAP tsc/gfr/was

-AAP