A lawyer employed by international firm Dentons has been barred from the profession in England and Wales after sexually touching a colleague without her consent.

SRAoffice

Scottish qualified solicitor Gordon Herd, an associate in the corporate department, was at a work social event at a bar in London when he touched the female colleague.

An SRA decision notice states that Herd placed his leg between her legs while rubbing her thighs, he rubbed her back and bottom and stood so close to her that she felt uncomfortable.

Following an investigation into the incident from September 2021, Dentons upheld a grievance from Herd’s colleague and arranged for a disciplinary meeting. Herd resigned from the firm before the meeting took place.

The SRA said Herd’s conduct was serious because he had repeatedly touched his colleague in a sexual manner without her consent.

The regulator added: ‘He was directly responsible for his own conduct which made his colleague feel vulnerable, uncomfortable and distressed.’

Herd was admitted to the roll in Scotland in 2016. He started working for Dentons in 2018.

As someone not admitted to the roll in England and Wales, he was made subject to a section 43 order which applies to non-solicitors. He cannot work for any regulated firm in this jurisdiction without the SRA’s written prior permission. Herd was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

Herd continues to be on the roll of solicitors in Scotland.