Richard Ashley Smith

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

Richard Smith, an equity partner, admitted pursuing an unwanted and inappropriate course of conduct towards a junior colleague (Person A) between December 2017 and November 2019, including covertly taking digital images (one described as upskirting), sending over 1000 WhatsApp messages, repeated dinner invitations, inappropriate gifts, and breaching a police bail non-contact condition by leaving a note in her desk. He admitted the conduct was sexually motivated. The Tribunal found all allegations proved, finding breaches of Principles 2 and 6 and failures to achieve Outcomes 2.1 and 11.1, amounting to a lack of integrity. The conduct was assessed as extremely serious and predatory; the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £59,550. No express finding of dishonesty was made (lack of integrity only).

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No taking unfair advantage
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was sexually motivated
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated over a prolonged period
• Targeted a junior member of staff over whom he had supervisory responsibility, abusing his position of power
• Continued despite warnings to desist
• Breach of police bail condition not to contact Person A
• Caused significant physical and mental harm to Person A
• Conduct of a predatory sexual nature
• Linked Person A's potential promotion to having dinner with him

Mitigating factors:

• Voluntarily self-reported to the SRA
• Previously unblemished 34-year record
• Open and early admissions
• Full co-operation with investigation and proceedings
• No repetition of conduct
• Positive testimonials as to character and work
• Underlying undiagnosed medical condition
• Remorse and apologies offered