Tribunal found repeated bullying, harassment and sexually motivated conduct towards junior staff
A solicitor has been handed a suspended 12-month suspension order after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found extensive allegations of bullying, harassment and sexually motivated misconduct proved against him following complaints from five junior female colleagues.
The case concerned allegations brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority against solicitor John Kishin Navani, owner of criminal defence practice The Independent Criminal Law Specialists, trading as Criminal Defence Solicitors.
The Tribunal heard allegations relating to conduct between 2016 and 2019 involving five women identified as Persons A to E. The complaints included accusations of bullying behaviour, inappropriate comments, humiliating workplace treatment and sexually motivated conduct towards junior staff members.
According to the judgment, the Tribunal found 43 of the 50 allegations proved in full, with two proved in part and five not proved. The ruling detailed a pattern of conduct which the Tribunal said escalated from inappropriate office behaviour to more serious incidents involving coercive and controlling behaviour.
Among the findings accepted by the Tribunal were allegations that the solicitor shouted “oi cunt” at a junior employee, threatened to blacklist staff from future opportunities, humiliated employees over not bringing sweets back from holidays, and repeatedly questioned female staff about personal relationships, medical appointments, and family matters.
The Tribunal also accepted allegations that he referred to a job applicant as “very sexy”, called one employee an “Apple whore”, made inappropriate remarks about another employee’s appearance and eczema, and shouted at junior staff during disciplinary-style meetings.
One of the most serious findings related to events following a 2018 office Christmas party involving Person E. The Tribunal accepted evidence that the solicitor took the junior employee to his flat late at night, dimmed the lights, adjusted the sofa into a reclined position, suggested she stay overnight, and requested a hug and kiss before she left.
The Tribunal concluded that the conduct was sexually motivated within the meaning established in Basson v GMC, finding it demonstrated “an expectation of a future sexual relationship” when viewed cumulatively with earlier conduct.
In assessing the sanction, the Tribunal said the misconduct caused significant distress to “young women entering the profession with high hopes and aspirations” and highlighted the imbalance of power between the solicitor and junior staff members.
Although the Tribunal considered strike-off, it concluded this would be disproportionate given the absence of dishonesty or misuse of client money. Instead, it imposed a 12-month suspension suspended for two years, together with restrictions preventing the solicitor from participating in recruitment interviews or disciplinary investigations within any solicitors’ firm for two years.
The solicitor was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs, which exceeded £163,000 and will be subject to detailed assessment unless agreed between the parties.