Senior said the firm had restricted his alcohol consumption

Baker McKenzie attempted to restrict its former London head's alcohol consumption following an incident in which he allegedly sexually harassed a junior associate, the hearing into his conduct heard today.

On Thursday, Gary Senior said the firm had restricted his alcohol consumption for the rest of his then-term as London managing partner, after an associate complained about his behaviour following a night of drinking in 2012.

Senior was cross-examined by Richard Coleman QC. Coleman is representing former Baker McKenzie partner Tom Cassels, who is also under investigation for his part in the firm's historical internal investigation into Senior's behaviour.

During Coleman's questioning, Senior said that if he had not been drinking during the night in question, the incident would "probably never have happened".

It is unclear how Baker McKenzie enacted the restriction.

Earlier on Thursday, the Solicitors Regulation Authority's counsel Andrew Tabachnik QC quizzed Senior on emails between himself, Cassels and then-Baker McKenzie HR director Martin Blackburn, which Tabachnik suggested aimed to keep the firm's general counsel away from the investigation.

Tabachnik said Senior had emailed Blackburn suggesting he tell Lewis Silkin partner James Davies – who was advising Blackburn on the situation at the time – "not to mention" the incident to Baker McKenzie GC Jonathan Westwell.

Tabachnik said the email read: "I am sure you will have told James Davies not to mention this [the incident] to Jonathan Westwell," to which Blackburn allegedly replied that he would remind Davies not to do so.

Senior had attempted "to keep Westwell out of knowledge [of the incident] at the relevant time", breaching several SRA principles as a result, Tabachnik argued. Senior denied all allegations.

The case continues.