Full acquittal for Linklaters partner

15/06/20

Tom Cassels, litigation partner at Linklaters LLP, has been acquitted of all wrongdoing by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal following a 4 week trial. 

The case arose out of an incident of sexual misconduct in 2012 by the former Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie LLP, Gary Senior, towards a junior associate within that firm.

Mr Cassels, who was then a partner at Baker McKenzie, together with Baker McKenzie’s then Head of HR, Mr Martin Blackburn, was accused of misconduct in handling the investigation into Mr Senior’s conduct and of failing to report Mr Senior to the SRA.

In a decision handed down on 12 and 15 June 2020, the Tribunal found Mr Senior guilty of professional misconduct in respect of the incident and subsequent attempts to influence the firm’s investigation into it.

The Tribunal acquitted Mr Cassels, Mr Blackburn, and Baker McKenzie LLP of any wrongdoing.

The Tribunal’s detailed reasons for their verdict have been reserved.