The Law Society has lost its damaging legal battle against Kamlesh Bahl after an employment tribunal today (5 July) found the Society had discriminated against its former vice president.
The tribunal found that the society was “vicariously liable” for racial and sexual discrimination by former president Robert Sayer and former secretary general Jane Betts in their handling of claims of bullying made by Law Society staff against Bahl in 1999.
However, the tribunal rejected Bahl’s claim of victimisation and concluded that the former vice president, who resigned last year, had bullied staff.
In a written statement, Chancery Lane said: “While the Law Society is disappointed, it is confident that it has already taken steps to prevent a similar case occurring again. These proceedings have not reflected well on Kamlesh Bahl. The tribunal found that in the course of her evidence she lied deliberately under oath and that she was not a witness of truth.”
The Law Society is hoping that the ruling will draw a line under the case, which is understood to have racked up legal costs in excess of £1m.
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