Law firm defends its handling of misconduct
A senior Auckland University of Technology law lecturer has raised further accusations of inappropriate sexual behaviour at law firm Russell McVeagh, including staff having sex with law students in a boardroom.
Russell McVeagh says it happened 10 years ago, was consensual, and the staff involved were reprimanded.
It comes as the firm announced an external review of its Auckland and Wellington offices after previous reports of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
On Saturday lecturer Khylee Quince described the incident on a social media post, saying it took place ‘‘some years ago’’ when she was lecturing at Auckland University.
Quince declined to comment further.
In the Facebook post she said she had ‘‘held my tongue’’ for the past week but was incensed by the firm’s response to accusations of sexual misconduct that had surfaced in media.
Quince said a student came to her office, saying she had attended a seminar the night before at the firm’s office and was very upset.
‘‘She said that after the seminar, the solicitors and students proceeded to drink the firm’s bar dry and things got out of control – culminating in a number of staff having sex on the boardroom table with several students – in front of the other students.’’
Quince said following inquiries she was satisfied there were ‘‘no question as to consent’’ so did not report the incident to police.
However she contacted the firm and demanded a meeting with the senior staff member who had been present.
‘‘He refused to meet or engage with us.’’
She said she and another lecturer eventually met the firm’s chief executive and were told the students were adults and were responsible for their own drinking.
The firm bore no responsibility for the drinking on its premises and it was none of the lecturers’ business, she said she was told.
Quince said the incident affected the student group ‘‘for years’’.
The young women concerned became withdrawn and did not fully participate in the group or in student life.
‘‘The whistleblower became persona non grata,’’ Quince said.
‘‘As you can imagine I never engaged with RM again and would not endorse them as an employer or sponsor.’’
Investigated fully
A written statement issued by Russell McVeagh chief executive Gary McDiarmid on Sunday said that over the past 20 years there were ‘‘a limited number of allegations of poor behaviour involving consensual sexual events including on our premises’’.
The social media post referred to one of these.
‘‘Due to the consensual nature of the event, a formal complaint was never made.
‘‘However, it was investigated fully and those involved were reprimanded.’’
The statement said for a full formal investigation to be initiated the firm would require a formal complaint to be made so that privacy laws were not breached.
‘‘This has limited our ability to prove the alleged misconduct. When allegations of any sort have been made we have taken action. If proven, we have taken action appropriate to the severity of the misconduct.’’
External review
On Friday the firm announced it would open itself up to an external review in both Auckland and Wellington offices after reports of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
It followed allegations from students in a summer law clerk programme.
Victoria University of Wellington vice-chancellor professor Grant Guilford said that in October 2016 they received complaints about the behaviour of staff at the firm during the 2015-16 summer.
After the incidents surfaced, McDiarmid said that more than two years ago they received serious allegations related to incidents in Wellington.
‘‘We immediately conducted a full internal investigation at the time and initiated a formal process.’’
Those who were the subject of allegations left the firm after the investigation, he said.
As a responsible employer, Russell McVeagh took employees’ concerns ‘‘extremely seriously’’.
On Sunday, the statement issued by McDiarmid said that in some cases, this resulted in termination of employment or a partner departing, regardless of their seniority.