Lawyer Adam Houda claims sexual harassment complaint is “inconsistent”

Adam Houda claims the evidence contradicts claims a work experience student made against him and he has ‘never behaved inappropriately towards any woman’.

A prominent lawyer accused of sexually harassing a woman while she was on work experience at his office says the evidence proves the complaint made is nonsense and contradicted by “available and objective evidence”.

Adam Houda has told the Sunday Telegraph he terminated the work experience being undertaken by Hana Seraphim because “amongst other things” she failed to disclose details of associations she had which he claimed rendered her work experience at his law firm untenable.

In an exclusive interview on Sunday Mr Houda also claims the “objective evidence completely contradicts and is inconsistent with the complaint made” by Ms Seraphim who has accused him of harassment and victimisation under the Anti-discrimination Act during her three-month work experience stint at his Sydney firm, Lawyers Corp, that ended in 2021.

“This complainant has been complaining about me for years now. She’s complained to various government agencies who have all investigated her assertions and rejected them,” Mr Houda said.

Lawyer Adam Houda, claims the accusations against him are not backed up by evidence. Picture: David Swift

“She now tries her luck with an anti-discrimination complaint. The complainant was never discriminated against nor was she ever harassed.”

“Needless to say, I have never behaved inappropriately towards any woman. My former and present female friends and legal colleagues across all my lifetime would all attest to my character in this regard.”

Former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner turned lawyer John Laycock told the Sunday Telegraph he acted as an independent solicitor for Mr Houda in relation to Ms Seraphim’s claims.

“There was a statement obtained from the company’s secretary who sat outside the glass doors to where the alleged incident was supposed to have occurred a short distance away and she did not observe any inappropriate conduct,” Mr Laycock said.

“Her statement was given to the police and they dismissed the complaint and took no further action,” he said.

Mr Houda is facing no criminal charges and there is no suggestion he acted illegally.

The Telegraph understands dozens of witnesses will be called in response to claims by Ms Seraphim, as well as text messages presented to contradict that the allegations took place.

Mr Houda refused to comment any further on the allegations, saying the “evidence will speak for itself”.

Hana Seraphim is suing lawyer Adam Houda for sexual harassment. pic: Instagram

The 49-year-old has acted in some of the state’s most high profile cases involving accused terrorists, bikie gang members and represented dozens of sport stars and actors.

Ms Seraphim, who worked in the sex industry as an escort before studying law, now works as a prosecuting lawyer in another state.

After being approached for comment on the claims and the circumstances around her departure, Ms Seraphim told The Daily Telegraph: “I will not be discussing the details of this case with the media. The matter will be addressed and resolved through the appropriate legal channels.”

She later added: “ I would expect Mr Houda to have been aware rule 28 of the solicitors conduct rules. It is not appropriate to discuss a matter when it is before the court.”

Ms Seraphim has launched the legal action against Mr Houda in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The matter has been set down for a three-day hearing in October.

In the past Ms Seraphim has reported Mr Houda to the NSW Police and to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner, an independent statutory body that refers complaints against lawyers to legal professional bodies.

Both agencies dismissed Ms Seraphim’s claims.