Woman Lawyer Forum drops Bahl as she quits Law Society

Kamlesh Bahl has stood down as chair of a panel discussion at the Woman Lawyer Forum on 1 April.

But a source who is speaking at the event tells The Lawyer that Bahl's invitation was withdrawn when she was suspended from the Law Society.

Bahl, who last week resigned as vice-president of the Law Society, was due to have appeared alongside such luminaries as chairman of the Bar Council Jonathan Hirst QC, chairman of Baker & McKenzie Christine Lagarde and chair of the Law Society Equal Opportunities Committee Eileen Pembridge.

The move is an embarrassment to conference organiser Margaret McCabe and keynote speaker Cherie Booth QC, both members of Bahl's legal team. Bahl has issued proceedings against the Law Society, accusing it of sex and race discrimination.

She has been replaced as chair of the panel discussion by top criminal silk Anesta Weekes QC of 36 Bedford Row.

At the Law Society, deputy vice president Michael Napier, senior partner at national firm Irwin Mitchell, has stepped into her shoes.

Andrew Blair of Blair Communications, which is organising the forum, says: "Kamlesh Bahl has stood down as chair and will not now be attending at all. She made the decision when she resigned from the society."