A securities plaintiffs lawyer was suspended from the New York bar for four months after a panel of judges found that his drunken assault on a woman was more serious than other cases that only led to a censure.

John Brandon Walker, a partner at 12-lawyer Bragar, Eagel & Squire, was suspended for four months by the Appellate Division, First Department on Tuesday. A woman testified that Walker "grabbed her by the neck, choked her, threw her on the floor and kicked her rib cage," causing her to fear for her life.

The lawyer had testified that he was blackout drunk and does not remember the alleged assault. While Walker had asked that the First Department panel impose a censure, as recommended by the referee who reviewed the evidence in his disciplinary case, the judges said a four-month suspension was appropriate.

"Respondent's misconduct of drinking to the point of blacking out and assaulting a woman in his home is disturbing and was appropriately the subject of criminal proceedings," the decision said, noting that Walker had pleaded guilty to third-degree reckless assault in 2017 and had complied with his sentence of a one-year conditional discharge, plus alcohol counseling.

"However, we also consider that respondent has accepted responsibility for his misconduct, has expressed sincere remorse, cooperated with the [Attorney Grievance] Committee and has an unblemished disciplinary history," the decision continued. "Moreover, the character witnesses' universal opinion regarding the aberrational nature of respondent's behavior and his otherwise good character and fitness to practice are compelling."

According to the Tuesday decision, the assault occurred in Walker's apartment in March 2016 after the two had been out drinking. The woman, who wasn't named, testified that she suffered bruises, cuts, a fractured wrist "and continues to suffer psychologically and emotionally," according to the panel, which included Justices David Friedman, Judith Gische, Angela Mazzarelli, Ellen Gesmer and Cynthia Kern.

Walker's profile on Bragar Eagel's website, which was still live as of Wednesday, describes his practice as litigating securities fraud, corporate governance and other complex cases on behalf of shareholders.

Michael Ross, an ethics lawyer who represented Walker, said in an email that his client "is, and has always been, deeply remorseful for this aberrational episode in his life and looks forward to practicing after the period of his suspension."

Walker didn't respond to a request for comment.