Disciplinary Tribunal upholds charges of misconduct in BSB hearing, represented by Fiona Horlick KC, against high profile silk

Earlier this week, a Disciplinary Tribunal upheld three allegations of professional misconduct against Navjot ‘Jo’ Sidhu concerning a young woman, finding that he used his status as a highly respected senior lawyer to sexually harass her. Fiona Horlick KC acted for the Bar Standards Board.

Following a seven-day hearing in November, the tribunal’s findings were handed down earlier this week. A Disciplinary Tribunal with a five-person panel found three charges of professional misconduct to be proven against Mr. Sidhu concerning inappropriately initiated sexual contact with an aspiring lawyer.

In an opening statement delivered at the start of the hearing, Fiona Horlick KC, appearing for the Bar Standards Board (BSB), said that Sidhu, a former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, had been accused of “predatory behaviour” and had used his “pre-eminent position to manipulate vulnerable young women who were considering a career at the bar in order to gain sexual favours”.

In her summary the chair of the panel, Her Honour Janet Waddicor, said his invitations to the young woman was “an invitation of a sexual nature and which he knew or ought to have known was inappropriate and unwanted”.

The allegations were amongst 15 charges considered at the tribunal hearing. Sidhu denied all charges relating to allegations by three women who were either law students or undergoing mini pupillage at the time of the alleged incidents.

Following judgment, Fiona Horlick KC, for the Bar Standards Board, applied for an interim order, which was agreed by the panel that Sidhu be suspended from practice until sanctions are decided.

Fiona Horlick KC was leading Harini Iyengar of 11KBW.

Harassment will not be tolerated

In a Statement, Sam Townend KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:

“The type of behaviour described by the tribunal is completely unacceptable at the Bar. Even though the tribunal found some aspects did not constitute professional misconduct, they found the behaviours to be reprehensible.”

“All three complainants were believed by the tribunal. We recognise how difficult it is to come forward to report sexual misconduct and it has taken great bravery for the complainants to make their reports and give evidence. It is incumbent on others, particularly senior barristers, who witness these behaviours to step up and report serious misconduct they have observed…Any lessons that can be learned will feed into the ongoing independent review of bullying and harassment at the Bar, led by Baroness Harman KC.”

The details for the November hearing can be found here.

Press Coverage

This story has been widely covered by the press, that can be read by clicking below:

• The Guardian – ‘Former chair of Criminal Bar Association found to have ‘inappropriately initiated sexual contact’ with aspiring lawyer’
• The Law Society Gazette – ‘Former Criminal Bar Association chair Jo Sidhu KC guilty of misconduct’
• Legal Global Post – Aspiring barristers in sexual misconduct case against high-profile KC praised by Bar Council chair for ‘great bravery’
• The Times – KC guilty of misconduct for inviting aspiring barrister to hotel room

Find out more

Fiona Horlick KC is a Band 1 ranked Silk. She is praised for her unrivalled advocacy skills, her unbending will to succeed as well as her charisma and her ability to handle clients with sensitivity. She has a wide ranging practice including professional discipline, contempt of court, health and safety, specialist crime, very serious crime and civil litigation. She is the co-editor and major contributing author of the international textbook ‘Lissack and Horlick on Bribery and Corruption’

To find out more about Fiona, contact Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905.

News 12 Dec, 2024