A former partner at magic circle firm Linklaters has lost an appeal against a three-year jail term for sexual assault in Germany. 

Thomas Elser, formerly of the firm’s Munich office, was jailed for three years and three months in February last year. He appealed that sentence but it was upheld by the federal court, the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), on Tuesday.

Elser was found to have assaulted a student intern at the firm’s party to celebrate the Oktoberfest in 2014. Another partner Laurenz Schmitt, who reported Elser to the firm, was also charged with physically assaulting Elser at the same event. Both partners left the firm with immediate effect following the incident.

A Linklaters spokesperson declined to comment on the latest outcome. At the time of the original sentence the firm said: ‘We have always been mindful that there is a young student at the centre of this case. That concern has guided our behaviour and priorities throughout.’

Earlier this week Linklaters obtained a court order barring its former director of business development from disclosing details of incidents involving women at the firm.