Vancouver Lawyer on Leave Following Viral TikTok Allegations

A Vancouver lawyer has taken a leave of absence from his position at the prominent law firm Fasken after allegations of inappropriate behavior surfaced on TikTok. The firm, which is known for its extensive legal services across Canada, is currently under investigation following a viral video from user Laila Rose, who claims that partner Patrick Sullivan sent her an unsolicited explicit photo.

Sullivan, who joined Fasken’s Global Mining, Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Group in May 2023, is facing serious allegations. In her TikTok video, Rose stated, “This is Patrick Sullivan, the man who sent me an unwanted photo of his dingalingling Saturday morning at 5 a.m.” She further noted that Sullivan is recently married, adding a personal dimension to the allegations. Rose’s video quickly gained traction, amassing over 150,000 likes and being shared more than 15,000 times.

In the follow-up comments, Rose indicated that Sullivan’s wife had reached out to her with threats of legal action if the video was not taken down. She shared a direct message claiming, “Take down the video, or I’ll personally sue you for defamation. I’m a lawyer too. Get a life.” Rose expressed to Daily Hive that her motivation for publicizing the incident stemmed from a broader concern regarding the lack of strict laws addressing certain types of cybercrime.

Fasken responded to the allegations, stating, “We take this matter seriously and have appointed a third-party investigator to conduct an independent review. Mr. Sullivan is currently on a leave of absence.” Attempts to contact Sullivan through his Fasken email resulted in an automated reply indicating that he is on medical leave and not accessing his messages.

The Law Society of British Columbia confirmed it has received a complaint regarding the incident and is in the process of reviewing it. A spokesperson emphasized that each concern is assessed thoroughly to determine if further investigation is warranted.

The implications of these allegations could be significant for Fasken as a firm. Kyla Lee, a criminal lawyer, noted that while law firms are generally not held liable for the actions of their employees, situations like this can severely damage a firm’s reputation. “If they were aware that this person engaged in this type of conduct and took no steps to stop it, they could be in breach of their professional responsibility obligations,” she explained.

Lee also pointed out that ongoing issues related to workplace harassment within law firms are under scrutiny by the Law Society, suggesting that the consequences could extend beyond this individual case.

As the investigation proceeds, the details surrounding this incident will continue to unfold, and the legal community will be watching closely. The story highlights the importance of addressing inappropriate behavior and protecting both clients and employees in the legal profession.

Daily Hive has not independently verified the claims made by Rose but will follow the story as it develops.