Harini Iyengar represented the Bar Standards Board in a multi-day Bar Disciplinary Tribunal hearing, BSB v Kearney, in which the BSB brought charges against a senior junior barrister for professional misconduct by way of sexual harassment. The two cases involved professional misconduct towards two pupil barristers and one mini-pupil, respectively, all of whom benefit from lifelong anonymity. The Bar Disciplinary Tribunal disbarred the barrister for the misconduct concerning the two pupils. In respect of the case concerning the mini-pupil, the Tribunal stated that, had they been sanctioning him for those charges alone, they would have suspended him from practice for 12 months, however, given that he had been disbarred for the other case, a 12-month suspension would have served no practical use, therefore he was disbarred for the case involving the mini-pupil too. The Tribunal imposed an interim suspension on Mr Kearney and directed the BSB to suspend his practising certificate with immediate effect.
In 2021, Harini represented the BSB in proceedings against Mr Kearney before the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal concerning sexual harassment of a different mini-pupil, which resulted in his suspension from practice for six months. In 2022, she successfully represented the BSB in resisting Mr Kearney’s appeal in the High Court.
Harini is recommended by the Legal 500 directory as a leading junior in Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law. She advises and represents regulators, professional bodies, employers and individuals in a wide range of professions on disciplinary and regulatory matters. The outcome of the hearing is reported by the BSB here.
