Ryan Beckwith

A Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) hearing into the conduct of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Ryan Beckwith has started this morning (September 30) with explosive allegations about a "drinking culture" at the firm, as well as an apparent friendship between the firm's in-house counsel and the accused.

Beckwith stands accused of having engaged in sexual activity with a junior colleague without her consent.

The 10-day substantive hearing over alleged sexual misconduct heard from Riel Karmy-Jones, counsel for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), that based on complainant Person A's witness statement, the firm engendered a "drinking culture" in which younger staff were encouraged to go out to drink after work, typically Thursdays and Fridays, at least twice a month. It added that partners would usually open a tab at the bar and buy drinks for junior staff, resulting in people generally coming into work the following day "hungover".

The court also heard that a Freshfields in-house counsel – known only as AS – had encouraged Person A to not discuss the matter with anyone at the firm. According to the SRA counsel, AS had known Beckwith and his wife well, and spoke to them about the complaint.

Person A had also expressed concern over Freshfields' handling of her complaint, describing it as "a very distressing process" in which too much weight was placed on her interviews with AS.

In this hearing, a continuation of the hearing that started in April, the SRA's counsel reemphasised the regulator's position that the issue of sexual consent should not be considered in the hearing. They said this was because Beckwith's behaviour was enough to fall foul of the principles of integrity and public interest and fell short of the conduct expected of a member of the profession and of a person in his senior position.

The firm launched its internal investigation soon after Person A wrote to the firm in May 2017 about her experience, the tribunal heard. As part of the process, Person A was required to participate in four meetings during May, June and July of 2017.

Though the firm's lead investigator upheld Person A's complaint – and placed her on indefinite leave – the firm issued Beckwith with a "final written warning" in which it told him that, were his behaviour to once again fall below the standard expected of a partner at the firm, he would be asked to retire. Beckwith accepted this, according to the SRA's counsel.

Beckwith's stance has been that matters taking place in one's private life should not have a bearing on one's professional standing. However, the SRA contended that by accepting his firm's investigation findings – that his behaviour at an external drinks had been unbecoming of a solicitor – that he accepted that these standards "do apply in this way".

Back in April, Freshfields senior partner Ed Braham said in a statement that the firm instructed an external law firm to investigate a complaint when it was received. He added that Freshfields then "took actions in the light of the report's findings".

Braham's statement added: "The firm takes all complaints extremely seriously. We want a culture that is welcoming and allows our people to flourish, and we work hard to achieve that."

The hearing continues.