Gay rugby team ditches McVeagh sponsorship

A national gay rugby team has cut ties with law firm Russell McVeagh – a sponsorship deal revealed days before its sexual harassment claims broke.

Announcing Russell McVeagh’s sponsorship of the New Zealand Falcons in February, the firm’s human resources director trumpeted in Law Talk: ‘‘[This is] an important demonstration that we embrace diversity and inclusion at Russell McVeagh but also to show we are creating and embedding a welcoming working environment into our own firm’s culture’’.

Seven days later, it was alleged that Russell McVeagh was anything but with stories emerging of inappropriate sexual behaviour at the firm involving sex with law students.

Senior staff at Victoria University became aware of allegations of ‘‘sexual assault involving students’’ in October 2016.

Now there is no mention of the sponsorship deal on the Falcons’ website and its Facebook page said the team had decided it was in its best interests to part ways with the firm.

‘‘We are committed to championing inclusivity and equality but would like to thank those in the organisation that have shown us goodwill,’’ it said.

The New Zealand Falcons have a mission to enable gay men ‘‘to come together to participate and enjoy rugby in an open and supportive environment’’. Being gay is not a pre-requisite to joining the team. Russell McVeagh refused to comment.

Meanwhile, Russell McVeagh has stayed on – tentatively – as a Wellington sponsor of the New Zealand International Film Festival.

A festival spokeswoman said it had been assured by the company that it had undertaken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of current and future staff, clerks, and students.

It would await the outcome of an external review of the firm – being led out by Dame Margaret Bazley – before deciding its next step.

In early March, New Zealand Women’s Law Journal put its sponsorship with Russell McVeagh on hold and in February the law firm removed incorrect claims from its website that it worked free-of-charge for Women’s Refuge.

❚ Victim speaks out, A14

Gay rugby team the New Zealand Falcons – shown in a team photo from 2014 – has decided to forgo its sponsorship deal with law firm Russell McVeagh in the wake of its recent sexual harrassment claims.