Fieldfisher partner referred to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after criminal conviction
Michael Harte referral follows suspended jail sentence for refusing to provide specimen for analysis in driving incident
February 12, 2015 at 07:08 PM
2 minute read
Fieldfisher commercial IP partner Michael Harte has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) after receiving a criminal conviction at Barnsley Magistrates Court.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) referred the case to the SDT this week, alleging that Harte had breached SRA principles 1, 2 and 6. Respectively, these are to "uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice", to "act with integrity" and to "behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services".
Harte pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis after a driving incident in September 2013, and was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and unpaid work for 250 hours.
He was disqualified from driving for four years and was also fined £2,000 and asked to pay a £120 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
Harte is still listed on the Fieldfisher website as a partner at the firm. He heads up Fieldfisher's fashion practice and also advises on a broad range of corporate transactions including company and business acquisitions and disposals and joint venture arrangements.
Before joining Fieldfisher, Harte worked at Goldman Sachs and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, focusing on M&A.
His hearing with the SDT is set for 21 May.
Referrals to the SDT are a rarity at top firms. In 2007 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's former corporate head, Barry O'Brien, was fined £9,000 for his role acting in a conflict situation when the firm advised Philip Green on his failed £9bn bid for Marks & Spencer in 2004.
In 2011 the SDT suspended and fined two former partners at the now dissolved Davenport Lyons for sending intimidating letters to individuals they accused of illegally sharing files.
Former Hogan Lovells litigation partner Christopher Grierson was struck off by the SDT in 2012 after defrauding the firm of £1.3m in false travel expenses, resulting in a fine of £14,000.
In a statement, Fieldfisher said: "The firm is aware of Michael Harte's forthcoming hearing before the SDT. We will not be commenting on it as this is a personal matter and is still in the hearings process."
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