Two years after being charged with 20 counts of manufacturing child pornography and possession of child sexual abuse material, Robert McKinley, a former partner at the now-defunct Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis law firm, is facing an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. McKinley, who was also the former intellectual property practice leader at Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg, is accused of secretly recording guests in the bathrooms of his residences.
The ex-lawyer was first arrested in April 2022 after the indictment was filed in Gloucester County. This was after authorities allegedly discovered recordings of at least seven girls taken in bathrooms and guest rooms at his home in Sewell, New Jersey. Following his arrest then, the New Jersey-based law firm Lauletta Birnbaum, where he worked, terminated his employment.
McKinley’s new legal troubles began this Tuesday, when the privacy suit was brought to a New Jersey state court. Notably, Lauletta Birnbaum is also listed as a defendant in this new lawsuit. You can further explore details of the case in the original report on Law.com.
The allegations against McKinley, if found to be true, may have potentially devastating implications for his future, and they will continue to have repercussions for the legal firms with which he was previously associated. As this situation unfolds, it serves as a grave reminder of the critical need for strong ethical standards and rigorous oversight in all areas of the law and legal practice.