It seems that Biglaw firms are willing to forgive and forget — even when it comes to the presumably drunken escapades of its employees.
Last fall at Simpson Thacher’s London office, a junior lawyer (who we’ve come to learn was classified as a paralegal at the time) reportedly attended a firm social event where he allegedly confronted an associate of Asian descent and referred to him as “General Chan.” As if the casual racism weren’t enough, the then-paralegal then ripped his shirt off and challenged the associate to a fight.
According to RollOnFriday’s reporting, the paralegal — who at the time was “on the cusp of becoming an STB associate” — was suspended from his duties while the firm conducted an investigation into the matter. When reached for comment, a firm spokesperson had this to say: “While Simpson Thacher does not comment on the details of personnel matters, the Firm takes any allegations of misconduct seriously.”
Paying for Law School in 2025: A Straight-Talk Playbook
Juno has consistently secured the best private loan deals for students at the Top MBA programs since 2018—now they’re bringing that same offer to law students, at no cost. Students can check their personalized offers at juno.us/atl This article is for general information only and is not personal financial advice.
Months have passed, and ROF now has an update on the situation:
Its findings have been kept confidential, but since then, [the paralegal] has been unsuspended, qualified as a solicitor, and joined the same practice as the gentleman he stripped off to batter.
Talk about awkward. Hopefully the associate in question is willing to forgive his practice group peer’s racist career blunders as easily as the firm was.
EXCLUSIVE Simpson Thacher forgives lawyer who tried to fight colleague [RollOnFriday]
Skills That Set Firms Apart
Legal expertise alone isn’t enough. Today’s most successful firms invest in developing the skills that drive collaboration, leadership, and business growth. Our on-demand, customizable training modules deliver practical, high-impact learning for attorneys and staff—when and where they need it.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.