Inappropriate Behaviour Action From The Magic Circle Firm
Linklaters has released a statement in response to reports that a partner has been prohibited from consuming alcohol at work events due to allegations of inappropriate behavior.
According to The Telegraph, the firm issued a final warning to the partner after a complaint that he had inappropriately touched a female associate during a work retreat in Vienna.
The partner is also accused of making inappropriate remarks to another female associate at the same event. This includes remarks about coming up to her room and asking whether she would be going up to the room of another male partner, who was allegedly present during the evening drinks.
The statement from Linklaters emphasizes their commitment to high standards of behavior aligned with their values.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority, which oversees the conduct of 125,000 lawyers across England and Wales, declined to comment on whether it is investigating the allegations, according to The Telegraph article.
A spokesman said: “We consider all concerns of potential misconduct raised with us. If we decide to take action against a firm or individual, then we would make that decision public.”
The partner accused of inappropriate behaviour did not respond to a request by The Telegraph for comment.
It states: “We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our people, consistent with our values. We always take concerns about conduct extremely seriously and where concerns are raised, we investigate them fully and promptly and take the action we determine appropriate in the circumstances.”
In 2020, the firm implemented a “sober supervisor scheme” to oversee conduct at its social gatherings.
Linklaters, along with other prominent firms such as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Eversheds Sutherland, has faced issues related to sexual misconduct in recent years, reflecting a broader challenge within the legal profession.
In 2018, Thomas Elser, a former Linklaters Germany tax partner, received a three-year sentence from a Munich court for sexually assaulting an intern at a law firm event in 2014.
