Leo Benedict Michael Foster

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

Mr Leo Benedict Michael Foster, an experienced solicitor (admitted 1988) and head of the London Debt and Equity Markets team at BNP Paribas, admitted creating and using inappropriate, unprofessional and offensive nicknames for colleagues (including "Hu She" for an East Asian colleague, "Mad Paul", "Pol Pot", "The Idiot", "Jabba the Hutt" and "The Twittering Fool") between December 2020 and September 2021, and using offensive/inappropriate language in workplace emails (e.g. referring to senior colleagues as "cunts", and asking if a colleague was "autistic"). Two allegations (1.2.1 and 1.2.7) were withdrawn on proportionality grounds. The Tribunal found allegations 1.1 and 1.2 proved on the facts and evidence, finding breaches of Principles 2, 5 and 6. The conduct was found to lack integrity but no express finding of dishonesty was made. The Tribunal imposed a fine of £15,000.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate, calculated and not spontaneous
• Repeated over a period of approximately 8 months
• Respondent was an extremely experienced solicitor in a position of authority
• Caused harm to colleagues and harmed the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Demonstrated insight and remorse
• Full and frank admissions
• Full cooperation with the Bank's internal investigation and Tribunal proceedings
• Previously unblemished character over a long career
• Positive testimonials
• Misconduct occurred during stressful Covid period and workplace restructuring
• Apologies issued