The Sunday Times Reports on WPP's Release of Client Data in Dispute with Brewer Client Richard Foster
February 21, 2026 — A high-stakes legal battle between advertising giant WPP and former WPP executive and Brewer client Richard Foster has resulted in the public disclosure of a multibillion-dollar trove of seemingly confidential client data, according to a report by The Sunday Times.
According to the article, in an attempt to defend itself against a $100 million claim, WPP submitted a 35-page internal document to a U.S. court that reportedly reveals the intimate spending habits of its largest clients, including Google, Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Ford. The disclosure, which documents more than $9 billion in advertising payments, is described in the report as commercially significant strategic intelligence that would typically remain internal.
The litigation centers on allegations from Foster, a 17-year veteran of WPP’s media-buying arm, who claims he was terminated for whistleblowing. Foster asserts that he raised internal concerns regarding the company improperly profiting from advertising rebates and discounts rather than passing those savings back to clients, allegedly creating a "non-disclosed profit center" worth $1 billion.
WPP has characterized the lawsuit as an attempt by a "disgruntled former employee" to extort a higher severance package. However, in a statement to the Times, Bill Brewer, partner at Brewer and counsel to Foster, stated that WPP had accused their client of extortion "without proper evidentiary support."
To read the article, click here.