Manuel Lopez-Martinez

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

Dr Lopez-Martinez, a Registered Foreign Lawyer and partner in Ashurst LLP's Madrid office, faced SRA allegations of inappropriate, unwanted and sexually motivated conduct towards two female colleagues (Persons A and B) between 2018 and 2021, including entering Person A's bed and making sexual advances, and pursuing a course of conduct towards Person B involving attempted kissing, unwanted physical contact and sexual comments. The Tribunal first rejected his jurisdiction challenges (finding the SRA had jurisdiction under s.43 of the Solicitors Act as he was a manager/employee of an English firm, and rejecting arguments on ICAM exclusivity, RFL status and double jeopardy). On the merits, the Tribunal found most allegations proved on the balance of probabilities, including that the conduct toward both women was sexually motivated; it found abuse of position in only one instance and rejected it for the others. No express finding of dishonesty was made. The Tribunal determined his conduct made it undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice and imposed a Section 43(2) order, plus costs of £61,561.48.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper communication with the court
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Sexual motivation found in respect of conduct towards Person A (allegation 1.1.1) and Person B (allegation 1.2)
• Abuse of position found in respect of allegation 1.1.2(c) (Person A)
• Conduct towards Person B formed a sustained course of conduct over several months

Mitigating factors:

• Delay - conduct had taken place several years earlier
• Eventually participated in proceedings after jurisdiction determined
• No previous disciplinary matters