Senior counsel Jamie Darams reprimanded by Bar Association

A respected silk who grabbed a female solicitor’s backside at a law firm Christmas party has been fined and ordered to undergo counselling focusing on respecting women and excessive alcohol use.

A respected silk who is currently assisting ICAC grabbed a female solicitor’s backside on the dance floor at a law firm Christmas party just months after he was appointed senior counsel.

Jamie Darams of Greenway Chambers was found to have engaged in “unsatisfactory professional conduct” over the incident at an eastern suburbs venue in December 2023.

An entry in the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner’s Register of Disciplinary Action describes the “unsatisfactory professional conduct” as being “unwanted sexual touching towards a female solicitor when he grabbed her backside while she was on the dance floor”.

Mr Darams has not been charged with any criminal offence and the Daily Telegraph does not suggest otherwise.

“In late 2023 I made a foolish error of judgment at a social work function,” MrDarams said in a statement to the Daily Telegraph.

Jamie Darams.

“Although I was under the influence of alcohol, my behaviour was utterly unacceptable and I regret my actions unreservedly.

“I take full responsibility and have apologised for my conduct.”

Assisting counsel at ICAC Jamie Darams.

The Council of the NSW Bar Association formally reprimanded Mr Darams on June 5, fined him $10,000, and ordered him to issue a written apology to the woman and her employer.

Mr Darams must also undertake at least 10 hours of one-to-one counselling at his expense focusing on sexual harassment, respect for women and excessive alcohol consumption.

“I have learned a great deal from my poor decision-making, and for the justifiable reaction from others to it,” Mr Darams continued.

“As a result, I have sought external counselling to ensure it never happens again.”

In October 2023 – just weeks before the incident – Mr Darams was one of 25 NSW barristers appointed senior counsel.

A brief biography confirmed he commenced at the Bar in 2007 and practices in employment and industrial law, anti-discrimination law, and disciplinary matters.

His biography page on the Greenway Chambers website describes him as an employment law and industrial relations specialist, with “particular expertise in restraints of trade”.

Recently, Mr Darams has been acting as counsel assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption in its inquiry into School Infrastructure NSW contracts.

The investigation is probing whether Anthony Manning, the former CEO of the Department of Education’s infrastructure arm, improperly awarded contracts worth tens of millions to friends and business associates.

Mr Darams acted for the ICAC in its School Infrastructure inquiry as recently as June 26, to hear final evidence before Commissioner Paul Lakatos released all remaining witnesses from their summons.

When asked if the Commission was aware Mr Darams had been reprimanded by the Bar Association three weeks prior, the Commission declined to comment.

Mr Darams has a longstanding relationship with ICAC, having also assisted as counsel in the 2022 inquiry into former Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas when he faced allegations he received overseas trips in return for planning decisions that favoured their interests.

Mr Tsirekas was ultimately sacked and banned from holding civic office for five years after ICAC found he had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

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