Maybe, just maybe, the powers that be at Biglaw firms are getting the message that they need to put the safety and well-being of their employees ahead of partners, particularly ones accused of sexual harassment.
Over the long weekend RollOnFriday broke the story that the Biglaw firm of Reed Smith fired a partner after an investigation. According to their reporting, a partner in the London office was let go after the firm investigated allegations that partner sexually harassed a female trainee. The specifics of the partner’s behavior remain unknown.
The firm issued a statement touting their “swift” handling of the allegations:
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In a statement a Reed Smith spokesman told RollOnFriday that the firm took “swift and appropriate action” as soon as it became aware of “the incident”. Confirming that the “individual concerned” has left Reed Smith, he said that “the safety and well-being of all of our colleagues matter greatly to us, and we are committed to providing a positive and professional workplace for all our people”.
It’s good to see the firm didn’t let profits stand in the way of dealing with allegations of sexual harassment.
EXCLUSIVE Reed Smith axes London partner over sexual harassment “incident” [RollOnFriday]
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).