A reminder for barristers at Christmas parties
The bar disciplinary tribunal has fined a male barrister for telling a junior female colleague that he wanted to smack her bottom, and then proceeding to do just that.
Dominic Woolard was a criminal barrister at 9KBW when the incident occurred at the Chambers Christmas party in 2018. The tribunal said that during the event, Woolard held a junior female lawyer, referred to as A, by or around the neck.while saying to her I really wanted to smack your arse , or words to that effect . The tribunal said that A did not consent to the touching , which was sexual , and Woolard did not reasonably believe that A consented.