Takeshige Sugimoto

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

Takeshige Sugimoto, an unadmitted Registered Foreign Lawyer and partner at Bird & Bird (Brussels), pursued an unwanted course of conduct towards a junior female consultant (Person B) who reported to him, between January and March 2019. This included personal/sexual questions, 989 inappropriate WhatsApp messages, declarations of love, persistent requests to meet, waiting outside her home, and unwanted touching including taking her hands and hugging. The Tribunal found his conduct breached Overseas Principles 2 and 6, was sexually motivated and an abuse of position. The matter was resolved by agreed outcome with a Section 43 order for 5 years and costs of £36,000 (including £6,000 VAT, repayable if HMRC confirms VAT not applicable). No express finding of dishonesty was made (lack of integrity only).

Duties found breached:

• Comply with rules of foreign jurisdictions
• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct was repeated
• Misconduct persisted over a period of 2 months
• Abuse of power and position of authority
• Included a sexual element / sexual motivation
• High culpability as experienced lawyer and partner using power imbalance to take advantage of junior female consultant

Mitigating factors:

• Personal crisis at the time including death of his father in January 2019 and separation from family
• Suffering from significant depression and was alone in Brussels
• Made admissions on a basis acceptable to the SRA
• Conduct ceased once he understood there was no chance of a relationship; no retaliation
• Has not worked for an SRA-regulated firm since 23 July 2019 and not an RFL since 31 October 2019