Zhenya Vernon makes major claim for Daniele Legler's millions after claiming they were in a sexual relationship

A claim on the multi-million dollar inheritance of a well-known European actor has been lodged by his Australian personal assistant, who claims their relationship turned sexual.

Daniele Legler, who was born in Italy and raised in Switzerland, died in April 2022 aged 72 and left behind a 'substantial estate' with assets across NSW, Portugal, Lichtenstein and Malta.

Melbourne-based Zhenya Vernon first met Mr Legler - 30 years her senior - when she helped him get a visa to Australia to visit his two young children from a former marriage.

Ms Vernon, who was born in Russia but is an Australian citizen, claimed in the NSW Supreme Court the pair were in a de facto relationship and had been living together at his beachside home in Portugal for six years before his death.

But the eldest of Mr Legler's five children, Nadja, 31, argued in court Ms Vernon was attempting to take their 'rightful inheritance'.

In a judgement handed down this week, Justice Pike ruled that while Ms Vernon did appear to be 'motivated by self-interest and financial gain', she also had a valid claim.

Ms Vernon markets herself as a visa consultant and court documents show emails sent from Mr Legler to friends describing her as efficient and capable.

She moved to Australia in 2004 aged 24-years-old with her former husband, a British citizen, and in 2012 completed a diploma qualify her to work as a migration agent.

She has also authored a fitness book titled 'How to Love getting the Shape You Want: Why Feeling Good and Looking Great Opens More Doors' and has competed in bodybuilding competitions.

Mr Legler has appeared in more than 30 films and television productions in Europe and had been working as an acting coach in his later years, travelling the globe and conducting workshops.

His acting work along with family money courtesy of his father Fredy, who was president of the Legler Textile Group known for its cotton and denim production, had seen Mr Legler amass a considerable fortune.

Much of that wealth is held in property along with bank and cryptocurrency accounts in Europe and Australia. 

Mr Legler's oldest daughter Nadja is one of three children from his first marriage, while his two youngest children from his second marriage were born during a brief period where he was living in Australia on the northern NSW coast. 

Nadja told the court she was not aware of her father and Ms Vernon's relationship being anything but professional.

However, after she was shown emails and texts sent by him to friends, she conceded there may have been a 'sexual' aspect but she still did not believe they were together.

'She took the view that what Zhenya was doing in these proceedings was seeking to cheat her and her siblings out of their rightful inheritance,' Justice Pike noted.

One of the emails sent by Mr Legler to a friend Dr Alberto Ferrari in 2018 outlined the pair's relationship. 

'Zhenya is great, she does almost everything ... she is capable, a manager, diplomatic, arranges meetings, deals with the Russian House, the Russian Government and Oz, she has contacts in both countries, and now even with the Middle East,' Mr Legler wrote.

'I consider her a secret person, a friend, and lately a little bit more: ... ah ah!! A leopard can't change its spots...

'But I am 68 and there is some money, she knows.'

The court also heard evidence from a friend of Ms Vernon, Yevgeniy Kushkin, who she has known since 2003 and is a business owner and former Deputy Director of International Relations at Sverdlovsk Film Studios in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

He told the court when the couple were visiting Russia for Mr Legler to teach an acting masterclass he had told him: 'I love Zhenya. She is very important to me'.

'Now that I am with Zhenya ... our lives are centred around Australia ... I plan to go back to Australia soon to see my twins.'

However the court also heard Ms Vernon kept in contact with an on-again-off-again boyfriend based in Australia while in a relationship with Mr Legler and that she texted him after Mr Legler died to say: 'By the way the Swiss has died this Friday'. 

The court also heard on the day after Mr Legler died she withdrew $35,000 from his Australian Westpac account followed by another $22,300 days later. 

She also withdrew €63,000 ($102,076 AUD) from a European joint account shortly after his death. 

Justice Pike also had reservations about Ms Vernon's credit, describing her as an 'unsatisfactory and unreliable witness'.

'Zhenya repeatedly refused to answer the question that she was asked but instead made long speeches which she believed would assist her case,' he noted.

Despite his concerns Justice Pike ruled he was satisfied that while the pair travelled frequently they both considered the residence in Portugal their home base and that they did indeed live there together. 

'I am satisfied that the relationship remained on foot as at the date of the death of the Deceased,' he said in his decision.

'She was his de facto within the meaning of the relevant statutory provisions.'

Justice Pike appointed an independent person as administrator of the will.

The matter will return to court in July to hear a claim for costs.