Ryan Beckwith

Ryan Beckwith broke down into tears as he flatly denied that he engaged in non-consensual activity with the complainant, saying that was "something I'd never do", and also denied that he had "abused his position of seniority" in any way.

Starting his defence today (October 4) of the allegation that he had sexual contact with a junior associate without her consent, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Beckwith took to the stand, responding to questions from his counsel, Alisdair Williamson QC.

Protesting his innocence, Beckwith insisted he was "a good person" that "wouldn't take advantage of anyone", and that non-consensual sexual activity would be "beyond anything I could ever contemplate". He said he was "in no doubt" about the fact that Person A had the capacity to think for herself on the night in question. He at times also intimated that it was in fact Person A who had initiated the physical contact.

When recounting the events of July 2016, though he denies non-consensual contact, Beckwith broke down into tears, saying he did not "know why he did it", and that he had had a "beautiful wife", "a great marriage", and that he regretted it. He describes feeling "totally devastated" at contemplating that he had cheated on his wife. "The world was closing in on me," he added.

The night in question

Concerning the night of the alleged sexual activity, Beckwith insisted that it was the complainant Person A who had led him into her bedroom, and she who had initiated a prolonged, "passionate" kiss that allegedly occurred in The Harrow pub on the evening preceding. Contesting Person A's insistence that she was "significantly impaired", Beckwith argued she was "her usual self" in the pub – "funny, bubbly and robust", but adding that he was not sexually attracted to her.

He said at one point, while sitting on stools in the pub, she "stroked and tickled the inside of my arm". "There was no question in my mind that this was a deliberate act," he added. Though the experience left him "shocked", he said he was "flattered", adding tearfully that "it felt good, I hate to say".

Beckwith also said that it was Person A – and another associate at the firm known as Witness C – who bought Jaegerbombs, countering Person A's original evidence.

Again contesting Person A's account, Beckwith said Person A had waited for him outside the toilet at the pub, and that she said she was "waiting for [him]". Beckwith then said they kissed – not an "innocent kiss", but rather a "passionate kiss" for "some time".

Countering Person A's position, he claimed that the decision to share an Uber ride was a mutual one, and that during this time, Person A "was perfectly normal" and able to function, and that her account of her level of drunkenness did not "accord with my recollection at all".

"I was enjoying her company and I believe she was enjoying mine," he said.

He did concede, however, that her flat was not en route to his home and said "we'd had a few drinks, and it made sense at the time".

He denied that he undid her jeans in the Uber ride to her flat, exclaiming: "No way would I do that. And no way would I take her shoes off."

He also insisted that asking to go to use her bathroom was "not a trick".

He has also contested Person A's version of events in which she suggested she fell numerous times on the way to her front door, saying "she didn't fall" and that there was "a jovial atmosphere".

Contrary to Person A's account, Beckwith said Person A was able to locate her keys without assistance and was able to unlock her front door. He also said Person A told him, "if you see my flatmate, don't tell her who you are".

According to Beckwith's account, once "led into the bedroom by Person A", the pair "kissed and talked and touched". He said at one point his shirt was off, as was her "top half" – as opposed to bottom half, as per Person A's account.

Le Manoir incident

In an earlier exchange, Beckwith further denied attempting to kiss Person A following the trip to Le Manoir in Oxfordshire – an alleged incident that occurred a couple of months before the main incident in question – and denied that he was party to any "altercation" in a club bathroom as per Person A's testimony, and further denied that he was drunk to the extent alleged. 

Of the events leading to the alleged kiss following the firm-organised trip to Le Manior in Oxfordshire in May 2015, Beckwith said it was "usual to have a closing celebration", but that spirits were particularly high this time as the deal was unusually complex, and associates had that morning received a "wacky pay rise" "outside of the usual cycle". 

He described the coach the firm hired as "luxurious" and "of the sort used by football teams", with "leather seats" and a fridge for champagne. He described his role on the trip as "informal host", and that he ensured everyone was having a good time, but denied having been so drunk that he was "stumbling", as had been alleged. 

He described the cost of the Le Manoir trip as being "a drop in the ocean" when compared to the money the firm made on the deal known as 'Project S', on which the firm collected "many millions".

He said his recollection of the trip was otherwise very limited, due largely to the passing of time – three and a half years – but insisted that at no point at the lunch did he order drinks for anyone else. He said that after the lunch he had "one or two" Pina Coladas, which was a "running joke" at the firm as he has a "strong Essex accent" and was therefore associated with "Del Boy" from Only Fools and Horses, who had a penchant for the drink. Nevertheless, he said that he didn't "recall being very drunk". 

Regarding the karaoke bar afterwards, he said he did not recall much, but countering a point made by Person A, said he had "no financial records to show he bought any drinks" at the bar. 

He flatly denied that he was involved in an altercation in the bathroom as Person A had alluded to and, suggesting he was not as drunk as has been represented, suggested he was of sound-enough mind to direct the taxi driver to his home in north London.

Alleged kiss

In denying the alleged kiss at the bar took place, Beckwith said he only had a "vague recollection" of "bending down to kiss [Person A] on the top of her head", as he might a "friend or an acquaintance". He said he stopped after he was rebuked by a more senior partner  present – known as CM – who "looked at me wagging his finger and shaking his head".

According to Beckwith, the following day CM said Beckwith and Person A were "inseparable at the bar" and were at one point "holding hands". Beckwith said CM told him: "I think [Person A] likes you." 

In an earlier exchange, Beckwith described his upbringing and his state-school education before he moved to Freshfields.  

He spoke of his ascent from Anglia Polytechnic University to Oxford University, then to the Magic Circle firm, qualifying in 2004, and rising to partner in 2012. On being made up, he described being "bowled over by a sense of achievement" and how he "cried down the phone" to his mother on receiving the news.

In his evidence, Beckwith threw off assertions that the restructuring team had a reputation for "hard drinking", explaining it was a "sociable", "friendly" group of people, and "not a hard-drinking team by any stretch". 

Beckwith countered Person A's criticisms of him as her appraisal partner – that he had "blocked promotions" or "did not take the role seriously" – as "ridiculous". 

He also "didn't accept" that he made any personal remarks to Person A during her appraisal. In her evidence, Person A had said Beckwith "commented on [her] coat" and "on [her] appearance". 

"I was a good appraisal partner," he asserted. But he accepted that Person A had a "legitimate question" as to why she was not promoted in the year she expected she would be. He said that  it was not his sole decision, but rather the combined decision of "five or six partners", adding that he had "advocated for her" among other partners following her grievance.  

Though he described her as "a role model" to junior associates, he also explained that Person A could be "cynical and sardonic", which could "demotivate" juniors at a time he feared others may join a respected departing senior associate to a rival firm. 

On how he now felt about Person A, Beckwith said he had sympathy for the fact that she "has suffered" as a result of the incident, but that he was also "angry" that the events that have flowed since have caused so much heartache to both him and especially his wife, who he said "has done nothing wrong".

The case continues.