Darren Lawrence Roiser
Allegation / charges
Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2019
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
The SRA alleged that the Respondent, Managing Partner of Firm A's London office, sexually assaulted a junior paralegal (Person A) after a team dinner on 15 October 2020 by grabbing her arms, pushing her against a wall, kissing her, putting his tongue in her mouth, and telling her she was "very attractive" - all non-consensual and sexually motivated. The Tribunal found most sub-allegations not proved. It found only that a kiss occurred (Allegation 1.1.3), but did NOT find it was instigated by the Respondent or that it was non-consensual; Person A initiated it and the Respondent briefly engaged before pulling away. The kiss was found sexually motivated (Allegation 1.2, only re 1.1.3). On the narrowed factual basis, the Tribunal found no breach of Principles 2 or 5 or paragraph 1.2 (no lack of integrity), and Allegation 1.3 was not proved. The allegations were dismissed and no sanction imposed. The Tribunal criticised the excessive workplace drinking culture and the Respondent's role in procuring alcohol.
Mitigating factors:
- Excessive delay of almost four years in bringing proceedings (incident October 2020, proceedings commenced September 2024)
- Respondent made concessions about his level of intoxication and accepted responsibility for facilitating the drinking
- Respondent had apologised to Person A
- Character references submitted
Codes & rules applied
Duties engaged
- Act only on proper, lawful instructions
- Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
- Avoid wasting the court's time
- Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
- Client-care and engagement terms
- Client confidentiality
- Competence
- Complaints procedure and handling
- Comply with and respect court orders
- Comply with rules of foreign jurisdictions
- Continuity and handover of representation
- Cooperate openly with regulators
- Costs and fee transparency to client
- Diligence and timeliness
- Disclose adverse law to the court
- Disclose material information to client
- Disclose referrals, commissions and benefits
- Fair dealing with unrepresented parties
- Fair, reasonable and lawful fees
- Full disclosure on ex parte applications
- Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
- Handle inadvertently received material
- Hold a current practising certificate
- Honour professional undertakings
- Keep client informed and respond promptly
- Maintain competence and CPD
- Manage conflict arising mid-matter
- No abuse of process or coercive powers
- No acting against a former client
- No baseless or threatened misconduct report
- No conflict between current clients
- No direct dealing with represented party
- No improper benefit, loan or bequest
- No improper communication with the court
- No improper fee-sharing or partnership
- No improper questioning of witnesses
- No improper solicitation or touting
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
- No obstruction or victimisation of reporters
- No own-interest conflict
- No payments to witnesses on evidence
- No personal opinion or familiarity with court
- No prejudicial publicity for pending cases
- No standing bail or surety for client
- No taking unfair advantage
- No tampering with or coaching witnesses
- Not mislead the court
- Not mislead third parties or opponents
- Not misrepresent regulated status
- Pay instructed practitioners and agents
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Proper basis for allegations
- Proper termination and return of instructions
- Prosecutorial duty of disclosure
- Prosecutorial fairness and impartiality
- Protect capacity and vulnerable clients
- Protect legal professional privilege
- Report serious misconduct of others
- Safeguard documents and limit liens
- Self-report to the regulator
- Truthful, non-misleading advertising