The woman alleged that the 44-year-old partner sexually harassed her when she was under his supervision in the firm between 2018 and 2019. She has since left the firm.

She said her then pupil master was one of the firm’s senior partners but she “worked primarily under the sole direction of the 44-year-old partner”.

She alleged that the man had “persistently, repeatedly and/or deliberately created an offensive, hostile, intimidating, humiliating and distressing work environment” for her.

In her statement of claim, the woman said the partner gave her “unwanted and overt attention (and) persistently displayed a pattern of intrusive behaviour”.

“He also cultivated an oppressive and uncomfortable work environment for the plaintiff,” she said.

She also pointed out several occasions where the man had harassed her, such as during the firm’s annual dinner on Nov 1, 2019, and during a break after a court hearing on July 7, 2019.

“During the dinner, the defendant approached the plaintiff who was standing at the back of the dance floor and grabbed her by the nape of her neck.

“The plaintiff tried to pull herself away but the defendant tightened his grip and forcefully pulled her towards him.

“At the KL court, the defendant approached the plaintiff and took hold of her right wrist and asked her why she was not wearing a white shirt while leering at the neckline of her black dress and chest,” she said.

The woman also claimed that the man repeatedly made her retract her resignations and threatened to retaliate if she left the firm by making it clear that he would speak ill of her to her prospective employers.

She said the man’s actions had made her feel “disturbed, alarmed, fearful, anxious, stalked, emotionally distressed and harassed”.

The woman is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages.