Neuberger: I suspect I have been guilty of bullying

Former Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger said he ‘strongly suspects’ he may have been guilty of what ‘would now be considered bullying’ when he was practising at the bar.

Neuberger, who retired from the Supreme Court last year, said he hoped it would not have been thought of as bullying but that people from his generation are ‘perhaps less sensitive than they should be’. He added that those people, who may still not realise that they are behaving inappropriately, should be told.

Neuberger was speaking during a panel discussion on harassment and bullying in the workplace last night. The event, hosted by the International Bar Association (IBA) and held at The Law Society, heard examples of workplace harassment and what can be done to target it.

The panel also included Funke Abimbola, general counsel for pharmaceutical company Roche UK and a diversity campaigner, Harini Iyengar, a barrister at 11 King’s Bench Walk, Peter Knox QC, head of chambers at 3 Hare Court and Katrina Robinson, chair of the LGBT+ committee at The Law Society. The discussion was chaired by Khawar Qureshi, a QC at Serle Court Chambers.

Audience member Helena Kennedy QC of Doughty Street Chambers said bar representatives should warn chambers that there will be consequences for sets ‘who do nothing when harassment is reported to them’. The baroness also told a story from her time as a junior barrister when she publicly called out an unnamed judge for his ‘awful’ treatment towards her during a trial.

Looking ahead, Abimbola said ‘a zero tolerance’ approach should be implemented and that firms and chambers should get ‘so-called rainmakers and senior decision makers’ on side, while Iyengar said she would like to get a point where senior partnerships are 50% women and top sets have the same amount of female QCs to ensure an equal profession.

The IBA, in response to a ‘huge shift’ in the attitudes towards workplace behaviour, is to launch a worldwide survey in May on the ‘nature and prevalence of bullying and harassment’. Lawyers will be asked if they have been bullied or harassed and what impact the conduct had on them.

A string of harassment allegations have been made in the profession in recent months - fuelled by the Weinstein scandal and an undercover report in the Financial Times on the behaviour of guests at the now defunct male-only Presidents Club.

Closing the evening, IBA legal adviser Kieran Pender said the legal profession is based on integrity and that it should ensure 'its own house is in order’ before advising others.