Gary Senior

A Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) case management hearing into Baker McKenzie, its former London head Gary Senior and others will not take place today as planned.

The SDT confirmed the hearing, which had been due to take place at 2pm, has been 'vacated'. The substantive hearing remains listed for December 2, 2019.

An SDT spokesperson said: "Cases may have a case management hearing if there are directions to be considered before the [substantive] hearing." But the spokesperson added it is not unusual for case management hearings to be vacated when the parties agree on directions.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has referred Baker McKenzie's former London head Gary Senior to the SDT for historical misconduct allegations.

The SRA also referred Baker McKenzie, as well as former partner Tom Cassels and former HR director Martin Blackburn, to the SDT for their handling of the investigation into the allegations.

The SRA's decision found that Senior had "sought to initiate intimate contact" with a colleague at the firm several years ago.

Baker McKenzie held an investigation, led by Cassels and Blackburn, into the case. But the SRA filing "found shortcomings" in the way the firm handled the investigation, stating that it allowed Senior to "influence or seek to influence the conduct and outcome of the said investigation".

A spokesperson for Senior said he is fighting all the SRA allegations vigorously. Baker McKenzie and Linklaters have issued statements.