The Good Law Project aka Jolyon Maugham’s project is sad to have to tell you that it has failed to punish a barrister who doesn’t subscribe to The Sacred Ideology.
Bar Standards Board fails to act on barrister harassment
Barrister Sarah Phillimore repeatedly deadnamed and misgendered a trans woman online. Her regulator has rejected our complaint but we won’t be giving up
But this is the law we’re talking about. Is there a law that says people have to call men women and say “she” when they know he’s a he? Is that in fact something lawyers should be doing at all? Aren’t there very good reasons for the law to stick to reality, the facts, the truth?
In August 2025, we complained to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) after Sarah Phillimore shared more than 50 posts across multiple social media platforms that referred to Kate*, frequently in derogatory terms. In those posts, Phillimore misgendered, deadnamed and shared photos of Kate, and used graphic language about her genitals. Following that campaign Kate made an attempt on her own life – as is evident from her GP records.
Kate who? Why just Kate? Why a first name only?
Anyway, Kate is Euan Weddell, who calls himself Sophie Molly, and shouts disgusting insults at women through a megaphone. He is not a nice guy.
As a barrister, Phillimore is meant to be held to high standards by the Bar Standards Board. The board’s handbook makes clear that barristers must not “behave in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in you or in the profession”.
I think a barrister who insists that a man is a woman is behaving in a way likely to diminish trust and confidence. I certainly wouldn’t trust that barrister.
In its decision, the BSB said that “The context of [Kate’s] social media and public comments has brought her own trans status into the debate” and “We do not consider that [Phillimore] singles [Kate] out for cruel treatment, such that her behaviour victimises [Kate]”. You can read its decision, redacted of private information, here.
But of course it’s true that Weddell’s social media and public comments have brought his trans status into the debate. They have also brought his venomous hatred of noncompliant women into the debate. The clip where he calls JK Rowling “you heinous old bitch” at a public demonstration is still there for all to see.
*Kate’s name has been changed because of concerns about her safety. We have also redacted the BSB’s letter only to remove information which might identify Kate.
No concerns about Sarah Phillimore’s safety though. Why’s that?