Shearman & Sterling is investigating the trainee who was part of a group of City workers whose list of holiday rules for a lads’ holiday went viral yesterday, ending up as national news.
A private, joke memo by a group of City workers, which detailed “tour rules” for an upcoming holiday, was leaked by one of their friends at the end of January and rapidly spread via email across City firms including Allen & Overy and Linklaters, eventually being picked up by national newspapers.
The memo listed profiles of the four members - who dubbed themselves the “G4” because of the group’s “density of oil and its capability to dominate social, political and economical spheres” – as well as their rules for a forthcoming holiday to Dubai to watch the Rugby 7s.
Rules included “mentioning parents’ salaries once a day” and compulsory chants “about your surrounding environment, being oily and how rich we are”, as well as rules of a sexual nature.
The group’s members are Shearman trainee Daniel England, aspiring lawyer Rory Jones and brokers James Hill and George Boulton-Lee.
In a statement, Shearman & Sterling said about England: “We’re very disappointed to learn of this individual’s behaviour, which is totally at odds with the values of Shearman & Sterling. We’re taking this matter very seriously and investigating it with our established procedures.”
Lois Gordon, Shearman’s head of human resources at Shearman also said that England was still working at the firm’s Singapore office and no decisions would be made with regards discipline until further meetings had taken place.
Gordon added that the firm runs a compulsory diversity awareness course for all employees, as well as yearly refresher courses. The course involves bringing in a group of actors who play out various scenarios for employees to discuss. While Gordon said that the diversity programme would not change because of the incident, she added that “it’s quite conceivable that scenario like [the email incident] might be part of one those plays.”
England was unavailable for comment.
Readers' comments (38)
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:03 pm
England's behaviour is normal for Shearman employees.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bobby Smith | 9-Feb-2012 3:06 pm
Just shows the true value of a public school education and indeed the recruitment values of our leading law firms and banks. Whoosh and rah Henry!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:13 pm
Having seen the e mail in question, this is quite blatently a non-story. Why anyone would want to make an issue out of it is beyond me. Unless, of course the law firm in question is looking to make cuts and sees it as an opportunity to get rid of someone.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:26 pm
i have also seen the email in question and while I think it is juvenile and stupid perhaps law firms in general might want to investigate the behaviour of some of their partners who actually inflict serious harm on individuals and their relationships, health and careers. Values aren't just for the young ones. They should permeate through the entire company, However they do not. HR should deal with the rot at the top rather than picking on a few silly young men who probably have been curled up in the feotal position for the last few days dying of embarrassment for something that didn't actually harm anyone else. Get a grip. There are people in law firms who do far more damage to lives and reputations maliciously and in a calculating way. This should not even be news. Start reporting real things, like bullying in law firms, sexual harassment and plain defamation of people by people who are desparate not to share their pie or get back at the pie. There are so many incidences of this that your front page will be full every day for a few years.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:27 pm
It is absolutely right that action should be taken against each of these odious fools. There should no longer be a place at city law firms or institutions for over privileged public school morons who have suck a lack of brain power that they are incapable of figuring out that sending such an email to/from their work acount is beyond stupid. I shudder to think of clients paying hundreds of pounds an hour from advice from such imbeciles.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:28 pm
Agree with the earlier comment, it's just a bunch of guys having a laugh and getting prepared for a break. That's not suggesting that the email is witty or funny (and they sound like a bunch of idiots), but it's definitely not a news story.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:40 pm
According to their email, however, they're not only "whity" but also, ironically, "intelligent".
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:52 pm
To all you self righteous posters, just imagine if your worst email (which you meant as a joke) made it into the public domain. These are just lads, bored at work, boasting! I hope Shearmans don't follow up on their threat.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bristol grad | 9-Feb-2012 3:56 pm
I had to put up with these types at university, and I can tell you it's not just harmless japes. En masse they are deeply intimidating and unpleasant. Ever tried walking into a bar full of these creeps? They think they own the world. They probably still do, but not for long.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2012 3:59 pm
They should be sacked, but "mummy" and "daddy" will doubtless pull a few strings in order to keep them in place.
The tragedy is that the lack of values displayed by these morons is now reflective of much of the population - wholly shallow and superficial, money-obsessed, salacious and vulgar. Revolting products of a revolting society.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment