Lawyer Banned for a Year After Assault at Covent Garden Opera

Matthew Feargrieve, a hedge-fund lawyer, has been suspended for 12 months by the Bar Standards Board after assaulting an underwear designer during a performance of Wagner’s Ring cycle at Covent Garden Opera in March 2019. The incident occurred when the designer attempted to climb into the neighboring seat. Feargrieve was convicted of breaching his core duty by behaving in a manner likely to diminish the trust and confidence the public places in the legal profession. Previously, he was convicted of assault and ordered to pay £2,265 in damages and costs at Westminster Crown Court. The financial breakdown included a £900 fine, £775 in costs, £500 compensation to the victim, and a £90 victim surcharge.