I just read some marketing material put out by a group of barristers namely Edward Faulks, Saleem Khalid, Katie Ayres and Richard Collier. The link to the article is at the foot of this blog.

The barristers’ article reads :

“In a group litigation claim 126 Claimants sought damages from Barclays Bank (“the Bank”) in respect of alleged sexual assaults committed by Dr Gordon Bates – who died in 2009 – between 1968 and 1984. The Claimants were prospective or existing employees with the Bank who attended unchaperoned medical assessments at Mr Bates’ home.”

The article explains the Supreme Court decided the bank was not responsible for the doctor and the various tests but then goes on to say :

“All’s well that ends well. Hats off to the Bank for pushing the appeals, and congratulations to the successful legal team. “

I must say I am disappointed in reading the article – not necessarily because the 126 claimants who were sexually assaulted lost on what amounts to a technicality – but at the tone of self-congratulation. “All’s well that ends well” ?

I am aware we operate in an adversarial legal system but you won’t see claimant lawyers congratulating themselves on “winning” cases. As servants of our clients and the justice system as a whole each of us working with individuals who seek justice and redress arising from sexual assaults are working to achieve good outcomes for our clients. We certainly recognise the enormous harm that sexual assaults cause to survivors of abuse. I wonder whether those representing defendants do.

More details of the case can be found here: https://1chancerylane.com/barclays-bank/