Out a partner for professional misconduct? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a mid level associate at an international firm.

There is a partner at my firm who I've witnessed lying about something in a very public way. I'm afraid to say more here, but it is something along the lines of completely making up a professional qualification/industry recognition and using that to get clients repeatedly. I'm astonished no one has said anything yet.

Should I out him anonymously? For various reasons, my timing for easily doing so will run out in a few months.

[maroon175]

You don’t have a duty to report that... also what do you have to gain from reporting it? I don’t think you should. His actions will catch up with him eventually.

[Wolverine32]

I am a mid level associate at an international firm.

There is a partner at my firm who I've witnessed lying about something in a very public way. I'm afraid to say more here, but it is something along the lines of completely making up a professional qualification/industry recognition and using that to get clients repeatedly. I'm astonished no one has said anything yet.

Should I out him anonymously? For various reasons, my timing for easily doing so will run out in a few months.

Crush him. Partners who lie to serve themselves in that kind of context will do the same in all contexts, including to your detriment, to save themselves from anything, no matter how small to them and the harm it causes others. Come very factual, but aggressive, and it will all work out.

[gregfootball2001]

I am a mid level associate at an international firm.

There is a partner at my firm who I've witnessed lying about something in a very public way. I'm afraid to say more here, but it is something along the lines of completely making up a professional qualification/industry recognition and using that to get clients repeatedly. I'm astonished no one has said anything yet.

Should I out him anonymously? For various reasons, my timing for easily doing so will run out in a few months.

I suppose it depends on the qualification and how you would out him. Is it something that could eventually hurt the firm (ending up on Above the Law, for example)? If it's that magnitude of a lie, then you could consider outing anonymously to someone within the firm. Not sure how you'd go about that, though.

[ckb614]

I am a mid level associate at an international firm.

There is a partner at my firm who I've witnessed lying about something in a very public way. I'm afraid to say more here, but it is something along the lines of completely making up a professional qualification/industry recognition and using that to get clients repeatedly. I'm astonished no one has said anything yet.

Should I out him anonymously? For various reasons, my timing for easily doing so will run out in a few months.

I suppose it depends on the qualification and how you would out him. Is it something that could eventually hurt the firm (ending up on Above the Law, for example)? If it's that magnitude of a lie, then you could consider outing anonymously to someone within the firm. Not sure how you'd go about that, though.

You could create an anonymous email account and contact a managing partner and say "if you don't handle this I will release the information publicly"

[ReganSays]

I am a mid level associate at an international firm.

There is a partner at my firm who I've witnessed lying about something in a very public way. I'm afraid to say more here, but it is something along the lines of completely making up a professional qualification/industry recognition and using that to get clients repeatedly. I'm astonished no one has said anything yet.

Should I out him anonymously? For various reasons, my timing for easily doing so will run out in a few months.

I suppose it depends on the qualification and how you would out him. Is it something that could eventually hurt the firm (ending up on Above the Law, for example)? If it's that magnitude of a lie, then you could consider outing anonymously to someone within the firm. Not sure how you'd go about that, though.

You could create an anonymous email account and contact a managing partner and say "if you don't handle this I will release the information publicly"

That seems like a recipe for disaster. OP do not do this.

[dabigchina]

General question: are there anonymous ethics hotlines run by state bars? Knowing how most organizations run, anonymous tips to people inside the organization can still come back to bite you in the ass.

[shock259]

If you want to pursue it, I might consider taking it to someone you trust in the GC office of your firm. They should be able to handle it without implicating you.

[20181989]

Yeah, OP, the answer is your firm's GC or internal ethics counsel. The firm should have one. Call that person, or, if you're not able, send them an e-mail that includes "Privileged to the Firm" in the subject/body. For the initial contact, it may simply make sense to request a privileged/confidential call or meeting.

The posters above who said you have no duty to report the partner's misconduct are generally correct (it may depend on the state). But that conduct certainly exposes the partnership to (a) potential legal liability, and (b) reputational harm. If were them, I would want to know. And as to (a), the firm's GC or internal ethics counsel will wind up running point. So best to talk with her/him.