SDT Inside

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) is holding off on a final decision on Ryan Beckwith until tomorrow (October 10) at the earliest.

The tribunal had expected to reach a decision on the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner today. However, deliberations are ongoing and a clerk said a decision will not be reached until at least tomorrow. 

The three-strong tribunal panel is led by lawyer and chairwoman Nicola Lucking. 

Beckwith has faced an eight-day-long hearing, standing accused of conduct "unbecoming of a member of the profession", following two incidents in 2016 involving a junior associate on his team, which culminated in sexual activity that the complainant alleges took place without her consent. 

Prosecuting its case, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has argued that Beckwith's alleged conduct amounted to actions unbecoming of a solicitor, while the defence has routinely attempted to both punch holes in the complainant's evidence and characterise Beckwith as a "good man" who "did not undermine the public's faith in the profession".