The partner allegedly took a similar tack to ‘room-for-sex’ landlords. (This pic’s a mock-up, btw.)
Clifford Chance has fired a partner in its Perth office for “serious misconduct”.
The Magic Circle firm said that when it received complaints about the partner it “immediately” suspended him and launched an internal investigation.
“That investigation has now concluded and has resulted in the partner’s termination from the firm”, said a CC spokesperson.
A source told RollOnFriday that the probe was triggered by more than five reports of sexual misconduct which included allegations that the partner offered “advancement and promotion in return for sexual favours”.
The firm declined to comment on that aspect and the partner, who was sacked on 13 June and whom ROF is not identifying, did not respond to a request for comment.
Clifford Chance’s Global Managing Partner Charles Adams said, “We deeply regret what happened and that our colleagues were affected”.
“We’ve offered and continue to make available our full support to these colleagues. I want to thank them for speaking up and to reassure everyone at the firm of our commitment to a workplace where they are respected, and where misconduct of any kind is completely unacceptable, and will be robustly addressed”, he said.
Clifford Chance Asia Pacific Managing Partner Connie Heng said, “We recognise the gravity of the situation and are fully committed to learning from this experience and promoting a working environment where everyone is safe and respected, and where misconduct of any kind is called out”.
She said the firm had engaged Australian sex discrimination and workplace consultants Elizabeth Broderick & Co to review the culture at its Australian offices, stating that it “provides high-level strategic analysis, assessment, advice, and planning to organisations wishing to strengthen their workplace culture”.
The firm is understood to have reported the matter to Australian and UK authorities.
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