Fiona Horlick KC instructed in high profile disciplinary case involving KC charged with professional misconduct

Fiona Horlick KC, representing the Bar Standards Board, has been instructed in a high profile case concerning Navjot “Jo” Sidhu KC who faces 15 charges of professional misconduct concerning three young women who allege that he used his status as a highly respected senior lawyer to sexually harass them.

Mr Sidhu is accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour between 2016-2022 in relation to three women, all aspiring barristers, and referred to at the tribunal as complainants 1, 2 and 3. The 58-year-old barrister who several years ago was in the running to be appointed as director of public prosecutions and is a former Criminal Bar Association chairman, denies the charges.

Fiona Horlick KC, for the Bar Standards Board, said in opening: ‘This case concerns the predatory behaviour of a very senior, very well-known member of the profession who used his pre-eminent position to manipulate vulnerable young women who were considering a career at the bar in order to gain sexual favours.’

All three women came into contact with Mr Sidhu KC in a professional setting or through LinkedIn, the tribunal heard. The five-person panel was told that the women were ‘impressed’ by Sidhu’s position, and that he had ‘promised to help their law careers’.

An eight-day hearing begun on Wednesday, 13th November 2024 at the Bar’s disciplinary tribunal. Mr Sidhu KC applied for the proceedings to be held in private but the tribunal rejected that bid as well as refusing a request to delay the hearing.

Fiona Horlick KC, representing the Bar Standards Board, which prosecutes disciplinary cases, said there was a “profound public interest” in the “exceptionally serious” charges being heard. “The importance of these types of matters being ventilated cannot be underestimated,” she said. “There are very real ramifications for the regulatory process and the fundamental importance of allegations of this type against a member of the bar being heard and adjudicated upon.”

Press coverage

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

• The Times – KC who led strikes ‘asked work experience student to bed’
• The Times – KC ‘gaslit junior colleague into blaming herself for sex’
• Legal Cheek – Top barrister accused of targeting aspiring lawyers for sex
• Law Gazette – Former Criminal Bar Association chair Jo Sidhu groomed aspiring lawyers for favours, tribunal hears
• Law Gazette – Jo Sidhu KC accused of inappropriate behaviour made hotel room incident ‘so normal’, bar tribunal hears
• Tortoise – Leading barrister fails in bid to keep sexual harassment tribunal private

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 20 Nov, 2024