A senior partner in Brussels has been banned after misconduct.
- The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found misuse of power.
- 989 WhatsApp messages were central to the case.
- The misconduct was deemed as sexually motivated.
- A five-year ban was imposed with fines following.
In a significant ruling by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), a partner, and registered foreign lawyer from the Brussels office of a major City law firm, has faced a professional ban. This verdict came after the partner admitted to intentions of pursuing a sexual relationship with a junior colleague under his supervision. Such actions, the tribunal concluded, were a misuse of his positional power, which resulted in a professional ban lasting five years, coupled with a significant financial penalty.
The Tribunal highlighted an ‘imbalance of power,’ observing that the partner, Takeshige Sugimoto, utilised his authority over a junior female consultant to attempt to foster a personal relationship. The evidence presented included 989 messages exchanged over two months, with numerous instances of inappropriate personal disclosures. This demonstrated a persistent transgression of professional boundaries, severely impacting the work environment for the junior colleague involved.
On the woman’s initial day at work, Mr Sugimoto’s conduct quickly crossed professional lines. He extended dinner invitations and pursued personal enquiries, which escalated into declarations of personal affection through messages. Notably, he described his time spent with her in exaggerated terms, indicating a clear breach of professional decorum.
The SDT heard that these advances were unreciprocated by the junior employee, referred to as Person B. Despite maintaining a polite demeanor, Person B experienced anxiety, self-blame, and felt constrained by the partner’s senior role, which left her feeling vulnerable given her recent relocation to Brussels, isolated from personal support networks.
The investigation revealed that while Mr Sugimoto ceased his advances upon realising the impossibility of a reciprocated relationship, the Tribunal put emphasis on the severity and duration of his inappropriate actions. His behaviour was characterised as predominantly motivated by a desire for a future sexual relationship, a position that significantly tainted his professional standing.
Sugimoto attributed his conduct to a period of personal crisis, citing personal loss and separation from his family as contributing factors. However, the Tribunal remained resolute, stating that his personal circumstances did not mitigate the professional misconduct. His actions ultimately led to a formal order regulating his future professional engagements.
The tribunal’s decision underscores the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and integrity within workplace hierarchies.
