Samuel Maurice Charkham

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

Samuel Maurice Charkham, a partner specialising in conveyancing at Simkins LLP, was found to have committed serious racial and sexual misconduct toward two female employees. The Tribunal found proved that he told a racially abusive joke at a Christmas dinner, donned an envelope claiming KKK membership directed at a black secretary (both racially motivated), touched Person A's bottom on more than one occasion (sexually motivated), and touched Person B's backside with his hand. Breaches of Principles 2, 6 and 9 were found. No finding of dishonesty was made. The Tribunal found a lack of insight and rejected his 'playful/old-fashioned humour' explanations. It imposed a Level 4 fine of £30,000, recommended EDI training, and ordered costs of £21,000 (reduced from the £29,950 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Fair dealing with unrepresented parties
• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct repeated despite a prior warning/apology requirement after the Christmas incident
• Power imbalance between a partner and junior secretary/accounts staff
• Touching of Person B occurred shortly after the Firm's investigation into similar conduct toward Person A
• Attempts to interfere with witnesses (contacting Person B to withdraw complaint; emailing during investigation)
• Witness statements of his witnesses were led by his own questions and language
• Lack of insight; sought to minimise conduct as 'old-fashioned' jokes and 'playful' humour
• Profound and lasting harm to Person A

Mitigating factors:

• 43 years' previously unblemished career with no prior disciplinary findings
• Cooperation with the Applicant and Tribunal
• Conduct largely spontaneous rather than premeditated (except KKK incident)
• No pressure put on Person A to keep silent
• Tribunal found low risk of repetition and no risk to the public