Top lawyer investigated after alleged 5am ‘unwanted’ dick pic

Fasken launches independent probe after partner accused of sending explicit photo

A partner at international law firm Fasken has been placed on leave while an independent investigation is carried out into allegations that he sent an unsolicited explicit photograph to a woman.

The man, whose identity the firm has not disclosed, is based in Fasken’s Vancouver office but has been referred to only as “Johnson” in online posts by his accuser. She claims he sent her an “unwanted” image of his genitals in the early hours of a Saturday morning.

The allegations surfaced this week on Instagram and TikTok, where the woman posted video clips showing what she said was the lawyer’s profile picture from Fasken’s official website. In her videos, she overlaid the image with text labelling him a “Cyberflasher” and “new husband”.

Speaking directly to her followers, she alleged: “This is ‘Johnson’, the man who sent me an unwanted photo of his ding-a-ling-ling on Saturday morning at 5am. He’s also recently married, not to me. This is his name, and he practises law at Fasken Law in Vancouver.”

She went on to warn, “Boys, don’t be like Johnson. Don’t be a public lawyer, a new husband, and send your thing to a woman who doesn’t want to see it.” Ending her post, she declared: “Disgusting. Shame. Shame. Shame on you, ‘Johnson’. This is what happens. You’ll end up here.”

The woman also included a written comment on Instagram, describing the event as a “very violating incident” and tagging it with #lawyer, #Vancouver, #CYBERFLASHING, #violation, and #married, as well as the firm’s name.

In response to the allegations, a Fasken spokeswoman confirmed the firm had taken action: “Fasken was recently made aware of an allegation involving one of our lawyers [‘Johnson’] in a personal context. We take this matter seriously and have appointed a third-party investigator to conduct an independent review. [‘Johnson’] is currently on a leave of absence.”

The firm did not provide any further details about the scope of the investigation or a timeline for its conclusion.

The posts have attracted attention online, with social media users sharing and commenting on the videos. The allegations have not been tested in court, and no formal charges have been reported. It remains unclear whether law enforcement has been contacted in relation to the incident.

Cyberflashing — the act of sending unsolicited sexual images digitally — has increasingly been the subject of public debate and legal reform in several jurisdictions. In the UK, for example, it was made a criminal offence in 2023 under the Online Safety Act. Canada does not have a specific “cyberflashing” law, but such conduct may fall under existing harassment or obscenity provisions.

This is not the first time in recent months that a lawyer has been named and shamed publicly over alleged misconduct outside the workplace. Social media platforms have amplified such accusations, allowing complainants to reach wide audiences within hours of an alleged incident.

For Fasken, the case presents reputational and ethical challenges. The firm, which operates internationally and maintains an office in London, will be under pressure to demonstrate transparency and a commitment to professional conduct while ensuring the accused partner’s right to a fair process.

Until the independent review is complete, the partner remains on leave. Both the firm and the complainant have made clear they stand by their respective positions. The outcome of the investigation could determine not only the lawyer’s professional future but also how law firms manage allegations of misconduct arising in personal contexts but carrying potential professional implications.