Scandal is making its way through Magic Circle firm Linklaters in the former of rumors of inappropriate behavior. The person responsible for the misconduct was a partner — reportedly a well-regarded one at that. At an out of town work event he (of course it was a he), groped a junior colleague and made sexualized comments to another employee.
As reported by Roll on Friday:
The partner allegedly stepped out of line at a firm retreat when, according to a source, he touched the bottom of a junior female colleague while “fuelled” with booze. He also allegedly made various sexual remarks, including asking a trainee, “Am I going to your room tonight?”
The insider said the female team members were “uncomfortable” with his conduct and reported the incidents to the firm.
Sounds pretty bad. The firm’s response? A “final” warning and a prohibition on drinking alcohol at firm events. That feels… decidedly lackluster, despite the strongly worded statement from the firm.
Linklaters said, “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 introduced the concept sober chaperones — someone designated to refrain from alcohol — at events. Though insiders at the firm still worry there’s a “significant risk to young and unaware female colleagues.”
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
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