Race rift at Law Society after remark that 'Asian managers tend to be bullies'

The Law Society was plunged into another race row yesterday after its vice-president was forced to apologise for claiming that Asian managers "tend to be bullies".

Carolyn Kirby, who next month becomes the first woman leader of 80,000 solicitors in England and Wales, made the remark after her predecessor, Kamlesh Bahl, was accused of bullying staff.

Ms Bahl has since won her claim for race and sex discrimination against the Law Society at an employment tribunal.

In a statement published in the Law Society Gazette, Ms Kirby offered her "sincere regrets" that her comments had offended Asian lawyers.

She said: "I very much hope that all my colleagues in the profession and in particular ethnic-minority lawyers will understand and accept that any offence was entirely unintended."

Ms Kirby made her apology after the Society of Asian Lawyers (SAL) wrote to her, making her aware that comments attributed to her had caused offence and were a "gross over-generalisation"

Ali Zaidi, chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers, said that it was important to dispel the myth that Asian managers tended to be bullies.

But he added: "Whilst SAL does not condone the comments attributed to Carolyn we do commend her for recognising the offence caused and apologising in such a personal and public way."

Ms Kirby's comments were made during a private telephone conservation two years ago with another council member. During a face-to-face meeting last week Mr Ali told Ms Kirby: "If anything, the opposite is true."

Ms Bahl is now standing for re-election to the Society's ruling body, after she was forced to resign as vice-president after a bitter clash over allegations that she was a bully. She had been expected to become the first woman and ethnic-minority solicitor to head the society, until five staff came forward with reports of humiliation and intimidation. The affair has so far cost the Law Society £2m.

Ms Bahl is contesting a seat on the council reserved for ethnic-minority solicitors. Her supporters include Imran Khan, solicitor for Stephen Lawrence's family.

Ms Kirby claimed in a statement the remarks had been reported out of context and labelled her a racist.

"I want to put the record straight once and for all," she said yesterday.

"I absolutely refute that my remarks were made with racist intent. I deplore racism and would never knowingly cause offence to Asian lawyers or individuals from an ethnic- minority background."