Lawyer who sexually harassed colleague retains anonymity over mental health
The top-ranking lawyer was brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for sexually harassing a colleague at a leaving drinks in central London in June 2022.
The solicitor 'out of the blue' said 'I want to dominate you sexually' to a junior colleague while laughing with a 'smile on his face'. The incident occurred a minute and a half into starting a conversation with the junior lawyer whom he had not met before, the tribunal heard.
The junior lawyer – referred to as Person A in proceedings – asked him: 'What are you saying to me?'
He then repeated his statement, adding: 'Yeah, you'd like it.'
The incident took place at a pub near their law firm's London offices and occurred while both lawyers were sat at a table with other co-workers.
Person A left the pub shortly after the partner made his comments. She described herself as 'shocked, really angry and really upset' and said she cried on her way home from the nearby City Thameslink station.
The tribunal has ruled the solicitor's behaviour amounted to sexual harassment. It has banned him from working as a lawyer for two years and ordered him to pay £32,655.07.
However, the tribunal also made the unusual decision to let the law firm partner retain his anonymity after he submitted evidence arguing that naming him would breach his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
He submitted medical evidence showing there would be 'a real risk to his life' if his identity were revealed. This included testimony from a psychiatrist who issued a report before the hearing.
The firm where the lawyer works has also not been named.
In his defence, the partner said he was under personal pressure as a result of issues in his marriage and was suffering from exhaustion following an overseas trip where he had drunk alcohol for six nights in a row.
He said social anxiety resulting from meeting a lot of people had also contributed to his 'out-of-character behaviour'. He claimed he had heightened nervousness about meeting people after not doing so for a long period as a result of Covid restrictions.
The partner later reported himself to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The tribunal said he was full of remorse and shame.
Prior to the incident, Person A had worked at the law firm for four and a half years, in a position that was 'a couple of layers' below the partner, whom she had never spoken to previously.
After the incident, the partner sent Person A a message on Microsoft Teams apologising for his behaviour. He said: 'I often say some things which are completely inappropriate.
'Even for my close friends who know me, I know I can be a bit much – pushing limits ... I honestly spoke to you like I would my closest friends and I really hope that you can take this as a compliment to your fun and bubbly personality.'
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