Supervising solicitor 'manipulated and controlled' female colleague, tribunal hears

A junior colleague of a director of international firm Gowling WLG felt ‘bombarded’ by messages from him to her personal phone, a tribunal has heard.

The woman, who was in her early 20s at the time, said Oliver Bretherton asked if she had slept with another director at the firm and requested photos of her while she was away on a city break with friends.

Bretherton, 41, is alleged to have used inappropriate words and sent an inappropriate volume of messages to the woman, referred to as Person B, when in a position of seniority, and to have abused his position.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard today that Person B considered Bretherton to be a friend after working with him for a period.

But she alleged that he became ‘angry’ when he questioned why she was acting aloof towards him, adding that he was ‘physically upset and his eyes were welling up’.

‘I felt like I was being controlled and manipulated,’ Person B told the tribunal. ‘I was aware he was watching what I was doing. There were constant questions about where I was and what I was doing. I was later told he was tracking my calendar [to find out] whether I was physically present or away from my desk.’

Person B said Bretherton, who had been her supervisor, knew his importance to her career and she feared the consequences of not replying to his messages for her future job prospects.

She alleged that Bretherton, who had introduced his wife and new-born baby to her, described her as ‘hot’ and how she was ‘competing to be a favourite blonde’.

Person B added: ‘He [Bretherton] didn’t have the ability to stop… I remember feeling like I was being bombarded.’

The tribunal heard that Bretherton had been ‘very argumentative’ with her at a staff barbecue and that ‘anything I said he tried to shut down’.

She added: ‘Other members of the team were getting uncomfortable. I left, I walked out and I didn’t want to be there anymore.’

Chloe Carpenter, representing Bretherton, said he had made certain admissions and reflected that ‘with hindsight some of the communications he had were not appropriate’. In cross-examination, she added: ‘He misjudged the situation in thinking you [Person B] were happy discussing personal topics more than you were in the context of your friendship.’

The tribunal has already heard evidence for more than two days from a woman referred to as Person A. She has submitted that Bretherton engaged in a ‘sexual fantasy relationship’ with her, sending messages constantly, asking her to masturbate in the office and encouraging her to send explicit pictures and videos. The pair also kissed during a night out with other work colleagues, the tribunal has heard.

Bretherton, admitted in 2007, is now a banking and finance partner with virtual firm gunnercooke, advising on complex structured and secured real estate finance transactions.

He denies acting without integrity. The hearing continues.