A national firm has become the latest legal practice to dismiss a partner following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Capsticks Solicitors LLP, an specialist in regulatory law, confirmed today it had terminated a partner’s employment for ‘inappropriate conduct’.
The firm has neither named the individual nor described the conduct.
Rachel Heenan, senior partner, said in a statement: ‘No firm or employer is immune from these circumstances and as soon as we learned about the allegations we took swift action.’
Capsticks is the SRA’s preferred panel firm and is regularly selected to run disciplinary cases against solicitors accused of misconduct.
An SRA spokesperson said: 'We cannot confirm or deny if we are investigating a firm or individual.
'When the contract was agreed, we made contingency plans for scenarios involving a potential conflict of interest. In order to ensure transparency and fairness, we would approach an independent third party to assist us in our work.'
The issue of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace has taken on greater importance in the legal profession with the growing influence of the #metoo campaign. One City firm has created a ‘safe word’ for staff to come forward when they are uncomfortable with something a colleague has said.
A London firm dismissed one its partners last year following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, while another firm’s global chair stood down after admitting to inappropriate ‘communications of a sexual nature’. Another firm said it regretted ‘a number of shortcomings’ in the way it handled a historic sexual misconduct complaint.
