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Ex-Freshfields partner wins appeal against ‘inappropriate’ sexual conduct finding

Beckwith engaged in sexual conduct with a junior female employee after a night of drinking

In a ruling handed down on 27 November, the High Court quashed a 35,000 fine levied against Ryan Beckwith and reversed a finding that he had breached two of the 10 Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) principles.
In a ruling handed down on 27 November, the High Court quashed a 35,000 fine levied against Ryan Beckwith and reversed a finding that he had breached two of the 10 Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) principles. Photo: Getty Images

The High Court has overturned a decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that ex-Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer restructuring partner Ryan Beckwith acted unprofessionally by engaging in sexual conduct with a junior employee.

The decision threw out the Tribunal’s 10 October 2019 ruling that Beckwith’s conduct following a night of drinking in July 2016 was “inappropriate” and that he should have known the junior’s judgement was “impaired”.

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