The Solicitors Regulation Authority has declined to comment on reports that it has sent a list of concerns to a Freshfields partner over her conduct during a review of the handling of a rape allegation by an employee at a City bank. 

Caroline Stroud, an employment litigation partner at the magic circle firm, was retained by UBS bank to review how the bank investigated a graduate trainee’s allegation that she was raped by a senior colleague.

The former trainee – known as ‘Ms A’ – had complained to the then head of UBS about how the bank had treated her. However, the law firm concluded that no fundamental errors were made in the way the case was handled.

Stroud is now under investigation by the SRA over her review of the handling of the alleged rape, following complaints that Freshfields was not open about its relationship with the bank.

The Financial Times reported today that the regulator has sent a list of concerns to the Freshfields partner.

A spokesperson for the SRA said: ‘We are investigating before deciding on any next steps.’