Matthew James Machen Barker

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

The Respondent, an experienced solicitor and senior partner at Clarke Willmott LLP, was found to have engaged in inappropriate, unwanted and sexually motivated conduct towards Person A, a newly promoted junior partner, at a firm away weekend in June 2012. He entered her hotel room uninvited, refused to leave when asked, made sexual comments and requests, engaged in unwanted physical contact and sent a text message. The Tribunal found the allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt and that he breached Principles 2 and 6 and failed to achieve Outcome 11.1. No dishonesty was alleged or found; the finding was lack of integrity. The Respondent did not attend and was not represented. He was suspended for 9 months and ordered to pay costs of £11,000.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Abuse of power or authority - senior partner and Management Board member towards a newly promoted junior partner
• High level of culpability

Mitigating factors:

• Prompt and unreserved apology
• Stepped down from the Management Board
• Single episode in an otherwise unblemished career
• Genuine insight
• Open and frank admissions at an early stage
• Personal and health-related factors affecting the Respondent