Darren Shaw

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Darren Shaw, a Chartered Legal Executive employed as Head of Financial Products at Keller Postman UK Limited, behaved inappropriately towards five junior female colleagues at and after the firm's October 2022 annual conference, making sexualised comments and engaging in unwanted physical contact and coercive behaviour. He did not attend or engage with the proceedings and did not dispute the facts. The Tribunal found the allegations proved, that the conduct was in some respects sexually motivated, an abuse of position, and tantamount to harassment. No express finding of dishonesty was made. The Tribunal imposed a Section 43 Order requiring SRA consent for him to be involved in legal practice, and ordered costs of £20,670 (reduced from the £31,950 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No taking unfair advantage
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was sexually motivated in respects
• Abuse of seniority/power imbalance over junior colleagues
• Conduct tantamount to harassment
• Repetitive and persistent, involving multiple colleagues on separate occasions
• Did not desist when objections made or discomfort apparent
• Targeted a wheelchair user, restricting her autonomy
• No apology or meaningful remorse; failed to recognise seriousness, creating risk of repetition

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters
• Conduct confined to one evening