Gowling 'appalled' by ex-director found guilty of misconduct

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has found multiple allegations proved against a former director with international firm Gowling WLG who engaged in a ‘sexual fantasy relationship’ with a teenage colleague.

The tribunal found 70 particular allegations proved against Oliver Bretherton after a hearing lasting more than two months. His conduct was found to be sexually motivated in some cases and amounted to an abuse of position and a lack of integrity

His former firm said today it was ‘appalled’ by Bretherton’s conduct and vowed to support the individuals who came forward with complaints against him.

The decision came after one of the longest and most expensive cases in the tribunal’s history. The hearing began in February after disputes about disclosure, then overran its 10-day allocation before final submissions were made last week.

The tribunal heard allegations that Bretherton told a teenage female colleague, referred to as Person A, he wanted to have sex with her in front of colleagues and asked her to masturbate in the office. It was alleged by the SRA that he told the woman who to sleep with and then requested she send pictures of them having sex. Messages exchanged were said to be ‘descriptive and explicit’ and the tribunal heard that Bretherton sent a video of him masturbating. The former colleague alleged that on another occasion Bretherton threw ping-pong balls down the front of her dress, then made her pick them up when he missed.

Two other former colleagues gave evidence alleging that Bretherton, now 41, had also abused his seniority with them.

Witnesses who worked with him at Gowling said he was ‘jealous’ of one woman’s workplace relationship and sent her a ‘torrent’ of messages. Another former colleague said Bretherton had described the first complainant as ‘the fittest’ after interviewing her for a role at the firm.

Married father Bretherton, admitted in 2007, had accepted that he exchanged messages with Person A and kissed her on one occasion, but he denied acting without integrity.

His representative told the three-person panel that the SRA ‘are not arbitrators of sexual morality’, urging the tribunal to ‘focus on the evidence and relevant points that bring this matter within the regulatory sphere’.

The tribunal has retired to consider mitigation, sanctions and costs.

Following the decision, David Fennell, chief executive at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, said: ‘We are appalled that some of our people had to endure such unacceptable attention from a colleague. Mr Bretherton’s behaviour was abhorrent and bears no relation to the values which Gowling WLG believes in and stands for.

‘Our priority is our people and in particular those individuals that stood up for what is right and reported Mr Bretherton. We will continue to support them and to encourage anyone experiencing unacceptable behaviour of any type to come forward.’