Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Also in UK: Sexual misconduct cases at record high in legal profession

Also in UK: Sexual misconduct cases at record high in legal profession

Sixty-three cases were reported to solicitors’ governing body last year, figures show
The number of reports of sexual misconduct in the legal profession in England have increased over the last five years and have reached a record high, according to newly released figures.

Reports of sexual misconduct to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have more than doubled over the last five years from 25 in 2014-15 to 63 in 2018-19, with the number of reports in the last year alone increasing by 16%, according to the response to a Freedom of Information request.

Sophie Vanhegan, partner at GQ|Littler, which requested the figures from the SRA, said employees in the profession were becoming increasingly willing to speak out.

“The increases coincide with the growth of the #MeToo movement, and likely reflect broader cultural changes arising from that,” she said. “Although there has been progress among UK law firms, such as restrictions on alcohol consumption at work events, these figures show that there is still progress to be made.”

In May last year, a global survey revealed that bullying and sexual harassment was rife in the legal profession. In the UK, 62% of female respondents and 41% of male respondents said they had been bullied, while 38% of female and 6% of male respondents reported sexual harassment.

The release of the figures follow a number of high-profile sexual harassment cases. In October, Ryan Beckwith, who was a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, was ordered to pay £35,000 in fines and £200,000 costs after a tribunal found he knew or should have known a junior female colleague was too drunk to make a proper decision about sexual activity.

A former senior partner at an international law firm is being investigated by the SRA over allegations he sexually harassed a junior colleague in 2012. Gary Senior is accused of telling a junior female colleague he was attracted to her, attempting to hug and kiss her, persisting when she told him to stop and attempting to influence an internal investigation. He denies the allegations.

The firm is also accused of not referring Senior to the SRA when it learned of his alleged misconduct in 2012. The woman involved signed an NDA with Baker McKenzie after its initial internal investigation had been concluded.

A spokesman for Baker McKenzie said the firm had cooperated fully with the SRA: “We’ve learned much from this episode, recognised what went wrong and have well-established and effective policies and programs in place across the firm.”

Members of the “magic circle” of large law companies have taken measures in recent months to reduce the risk of sexual misconduct. Over the Christmas party season, the law firm Linklaters launched a sober supervisor programme, with certain partners designated a “non-drinking” role to keep an eye on colleagues.

Meanwhile, Slaughter and May has banned work-subsidised ski trips, following an incident that led to a lawyer leaving the firm after an allegation of sexual harassment was made after a trip, the Telegraph reported.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
×