A veteran solicitor who made unwanted sexual comments to multiple women at the office Christmas party has been suspended for a year.
Timothy Eagle, formerly senior partner with Norfolk firm Hansells Solicitors, said to one of the women that ‘if I was 20 years younger, I would like to f*** you right now’. He kissed another woman on the shoulder and when she told him to stop he replied ‘I don’t believe you, every woman likes being kissed’.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal said Eagle had failed to take full responsibility as he argued unsuccessfully that his behaviour was involuntary and influenced by alcohol.
‘The tribunal found that Mr Eagle’s motivation for his misconduct was sexual motivation which was an aggravating feature of it,’ added the ruling. ‘His behaviour arose from actions which were not premeditated. Mr Eagle nevertheless had direct control and responsibility for the circumstances giving rise to his misconduct.’
Eagle, admitted in 1983, attended the firm’s 2022 Christmas lunch and joined colleagues when further celebrations took place in the office. The tribunal heard that two colleagues had suggested to Eagle that he go home because he was so drunk, and his partner was later called to collect him.
Person A, described by the tribunal as a ‘young’ woman, had been trying to get into the fridge but Eagle blocked the door, before saying that he would have like to have sex with her if he was younger. He also put his hand on the side of her waist before Person A left and ran to three colleagues and said what had happened. A few days later, he said to her: ‘I don’t know if I said anything but I’m sorry if I did.’
When Eagle kissed Person B on the shoulder, she told him to stop and said he was making her feel uncomfortable. He replied to her ‘you’re just a f***ing bitch and can f*** off’ before walking away from her. Again he apologised later in a text message, saying ‘I never wanted to make you feel angry or upset or angry, and feel very bad about it now’.
With a third woman, Eagle gestured to her thighs and said the dress she was wearing was ‘easy access’. She moved away from him and suggested he go home.
On the same evening, Eagle spoke with a fourth person in the kitchen and said to her: ‘We’ve got a bunch of really lovely colleagues here and I’d really love to f*** [Person E].’
Eagle was suspended from work after the partners commenced internal disciplinary proceedings against him. He retired before those proceedings concluded.
Eagle said he was drunk during the party and could not recall what happened in relation to the allegations, so his conduct could not be characterised as lacking integrity. He said this behaviour was out of character and suggested at one point that his drink could have been spiked.
He did not intend to practise as a solicitor again but wanted to work as a notary, and he asked the tribunal not to punish him in a way that might affect this.
The tribunal said he had damaged the reputation of the solicitors’ profession and that a one-year suspension was fair and proportionate. He was also ordered to pay £30,000 costs.
