Darren Shaw

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

Darren Shaw, a Chartered Legal Executive employed as Head of Financial Products at Keller Postman UK Ltd (a Recognised Body), made inappropriate sexualised comments and engaged in unwanted physical contact with several junior female colleagues during and after the Firm's annual conference on 6-7 October 2022. He did not attend or engage with the proceedings and did not dispute the facts. The Tribunal found all allegations proved on the balance of probabilities, including that the conduct was in some respects sexually motivated, an abuse of his senior position, and tantamount to harassment (including restricting a wheelchair user's autonomy). It found the conduct undermined public trust and that there was a risk of repetition given his lack of remorse. The Tribunal made a Section 43(2) Order requiring SRA prior consent for any future involvement in legal practice. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No conflict between current clients
• No taking unfair advantage
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was sexually motivated in part
• Abuse of senior position / power imbalance over junior colleagues
• Conduct tantamount to harassment
• Repetitive and persistent, involving multiple colleagues on separate occasions
• Did not desist when objections made or discomfort apparent
• Conduct toward a wheelchair user restricting her autonomy
• No apology or meaningful remorse; failure to recognise seriousness, indicating risk of repetition

Mitigating factors:

• Conduct took place on one evening only