Solicitors Regulation Authority

Former Baker McKenzie London head Gary Senior's alleged misconduct was reported to the U.K. Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2015, three years before the historical allegations emerged publicly, the hearing into the matter heard on Monday.

Senior's QC claimed that the matter had been reported to the SRA but did not detail by whom.

Earlier in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing on Monday, former Baker McKenzie London HR head Martin Blackburn referred to a letter he had sent to the SRA in 2015, alleging that his investigation into the matter had caused "much annoyance" to Senior and Paul Rawlinson, who succeeded Senior in the role of London managing partner in 2013.

Blackburn also referenced a later letter he had sent to the SRA in 2017, in which he alleged he felt Rawlinson's treatment of him changed as a result of the internal investigation.

The SRA and Baker McKenzie would not comment on the communications.

Greg Treverton-Jones QC, Senior's counsel, also claimed that Senior was "thrown under the bus" by the firm, and was fired for "public relations reasons."

He also claimed Senior's alleged behaviour did not amount to professional misconduct.

Treverton-Jones QC told the tribunal that other allegations of alleged misconduct within the legal profession to have emerged recently, including that of Ryan Beckwith, were "far more serious" than Senior's.

He said that if Senior's version of events is correct, then he is guilty of "no more than having made a failed pass at a junior colleague" and argued that does not amount to professional misconduct.

Treverton-Jones also claimed that all the evidence heard showed that Baker McKenzie had "mishandled" the matter ever since legal news website RollOnFriday revealed the allegations against Senior in 2018, and had dismissed Senior "for PR reasons".

He questioned why the firm had "thrown Senior, Blackburn and Tom Cassells [former partner and also under investigation by the SRA] under the bus" and argued the firm was "trying to protect themselves from their perception in the media."

Meanwhile Blackburn claimed in the hearing on Monday that his internal investigation into Senior's behaviour had caused "annoyance" to the firm's then London head, and Blackburn's role at the firm was diminished as a result.

He claimed that then London managing partner Rawlinson had seemed "unhappy" over Blackburn's internal investigation about a complaint against former London head Gary Senior.

In a 2015 letter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Blackburn claimed that his  investigation into the matter had caused "much annoyance" to Senior and Rawlinson, who succeeded Senior in the role of London managing partner in 2013.

In a later document sent to the SRA in 2017, Blackburn claimed that he felt Rawlinson's treatment of him changed as a result.

He said during cross-examination on Monday that he was suddenly "excluded from matters that were previously in my responsibility" such as organising the annual partners meeting, and responsibilities regarding the firm's remuneration structure, following Rawlinson's appointment as London managing partner in 2013.

Blackburn also alleged that Rawlinson would also make "jokey comments" about what Rawlinson referred to as "Gary's little matter."

Senior stands accused of sexual harassment allegedly perpetrated on a junior associate in 2012. Baker McKenzie, Tom Cassels as well as Martin Blackburn are all accused of having mishandled the internal investigation into the matter at the time.

On Friday, Blackburn alleged in court that the firm's 2012 London management committee had discussed and decided against reporting the Senior matter to the SRA. It was also revealed in court that the firm had handed out "around £140,000″ to Person A in a settlement agreement.

A spokesperson for Bakers said in a statement: "We have been co-operating fully with the Solicitors Regulation Authority since the beginning of this process in 2018. We have learned much from this episode, recognised what went wrong and have well-established and effective policies and programs in place across the firm."

The hearing continues.