A former Russell McVeagh partner guilty of misconduct has been suspended from practising law for two years by a disciplinary tribunal.
In June last year, James Gardner Hopkins was found guilty of six charges of misconduct, including for touching interns inappropriately at work functions in 2015. The case is thought of as fundamental to starting New Zealand’s #MeToo movement.
His suspension will begin on February 7 this year and he has also been ordered to pay $64,630 in costs to the Lawyers Standards Committee and $43,378 to the New Zealand Law Society.
In June the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal found Gardner-Hopkins’ conduct in all the charges relating to six separate incidents met the test of being regarded as “disgraceful or dishonourable”.
Five of the charges related to his behaviour at the law firm’s Christmas party.
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