Nicholas West was hit with a £15,000 fine and ordered to pay £12,000 in costs at a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing yesterday as the result of an email exchange with his client that contained sexually explicit and sexist comments about a female colleague. However, he avoided heavier punishment, which could have seen him struck off from the solicitors' roll.

‘Not reflective of his beliefs’

Following a conduct review, DLA stood by sports specialist West, who apologised. After the exchange originally hit the headlines in 2014, the firm said it 'accepted West's assurances that these emails are not reflective of his beliefs and values and that there will be no recurrence of this behaviour'.

Blurred lines

At yesterday’s hearing, West’s representative Peter Cadman, of law firm Russell-Cooke, said the distinction between the relationship with a friend and a client had ‘become blurred’.

Unacceptable behaviour

A spokesperson for the SRA, which proved to the criminal standard of proof that West was involved in inappropriate emails with his client, said: 'We welcome the recognition that behaviour of this sort is unacceptable. Solicitors should uphold the high professional standards that we set and the public expect.'

Sources: Legal Business; Law Society Gazette