City law firm in new sexism row over pregnant job applicant

'Innocent question': Stuart Dutson sent emails about a woman's commitment
12 April 2012

A City law firm was today hit by fresh accusations of sexism.

The claims came from a former senior lawyer at Eversheds who spoke out after a colleague's email asked how a job applicant who had recently given birth could be questioned on her "commitment".

Stewart Shackleton, 51, who was co-head of the international arbitration group, resigned in a dispute linked to the email last month. Today he claimed the firm ordered a secret investigation into the woman's background when she applied for the job, while carrying out no checks on male rivals.

Mr Shackleton also said it was "inaccurate" for the firm to claim it had investigated and dealt with the email from Stuart Dutson "swiftly and decisively". In fact, the issues remained unresolved when he quit the firm on 26 January, he said.

It was revealed that Mr Dutson had emailed Mr Shackleton and a colleague last June to ask: "This lady has recently had a child. Are there any guidelines on how we can ask questions properly designed to identify her commitment, hours she is prepared to do, how she will balance work and a child?"

When the email was made public last month Eversheds, which prides itself on its equal opportunities policy, insisted there was no discrimination experienced by the woman but sent Mr Dutson on a "training course".

Mr Shackleton, a Canadian who quit his post at Eversheds several days before the story broke and was out of the country at the time, has given a lengthy statement to the Standard in response to growing internet "speculation" about his resignation.

He said it was "untrue" to suggest Mr Dutson's email was merely an "innocent question seeking guidance on how to question a woman candidate".

He said: "It involved prior inquiries by Eversheds about the candidate at her place of work without her knowledge or consent. No such prior inquiries were made of the male candidates. Information obtained about the candidate in this way led to the suggestion that questions be put to her about her child care responsibilities."

He said he was speaking out after being at the centre of speculation that he had leaked Mr Dutson's emails.

He refused to discuss his resignation, which the Standard understands was "linked" to his disagreement with Mr Dutson.

Eversheds said today: "We have presented all facts accurately and any assertions by Mr Shackleton to the contrary are perplexing but a matter for him."

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