A male solicitor formerly with international firm Taylor Wessing, who was found to have been ‘sexually motivated’ when he touched a woman and made comments about her appearance, has been fined £30,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Daniel Paul Hugh Hutchings, admitted in 2010, attended a lunch hosted by the Society of Construction Lawyers and went on to a Mayfair club where he approached 'person A', who was unknown to him. At the club, he made comments about person A’s appearance including words to the effect of ‘you’ve got a great bum’, the tribunal heard.
A witness, identified as 'witness B', described Hutchings' behaviour as 'handsy'. The tribunal heard that he touched person A by placing one or more of his hands on her waist area and ignored person A’s attempts – both in words and contact – to make clear that his actions were unwanted. The tribunal on Tuesday found the Solicitors Regulation Authority's allegations proven and that Hutchings' actions were sexually motivated and in breach of principles 2 and 5.
Making submissions on sanctions, Gregory Treverton-Jones KC, for Hutchings, said: ‘I start with an apology on behalf of my client. He wishes to apologise through me, not only to you, the tribunal and the SRA but perhaps most importantly of all to person A and person B, a heartfelt apology.
‘He is absolutely mortified about what he did in February 2020 when he was in drink. He knows it must have been upsetting and annoying to the people involved.'
Treverton-Jones added: ‘It seems person A and person B when first approached [by Hutchings] were in a group containing men who could have stepped in had it been necessary. These women would not have perceived themselves to be at risk however annoying and distressing the contact was.’
The tribunal heard that the incident had ‘devastating financial and career consequences'. Hutchings ‘lost his chance of promotion then lost his job, though the firm was initially supportive they stopped being supportive and a consensual termination was arrived at.’
Hutchings' misconduct was 'significantly serious…but not so serious as to result in an order of suspension or strike off', the tribunal ruled. Hutchings was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,000.
