Paulette Main struck off

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has struck off Paulette Elizabeth Main for defrauding the Ministry of Justice of $374,773.50 while practising as a Family Legal Aid Service provider. The Tribunal found the conduct sat “among the outer limits of grievous professional wrongs committed by a lawyer” and…

Quentin Haines struck off for high end misconduct

Quentin Stobart Haines was struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors by the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) in March 2024 after being found to have engaged in eight disciplinary offences. The charges were varied in nature and included a criminal conviction, gross overcharging, misleading the Court,…

Lawyer censured and ordered to pay compensation for failing to uphold professional obligations

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has censured a lawyer and ordered her to pay compensation and apologise to her former client for failing to uphold professional standards while acting in a litigation matter and failing to comply with a standards committee order. The Tribunal determined…

Lawyer prohibited from practising on own account and ordered to pay compensation for failing to provide competent advice

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) made orders prohibiting Auckland lawyer, Michael Locke, from practising on own account for failing to provide competent legal advice. The Tribunal determined Mr Locke’s advice led to a “predictable and expensive loss” for his client and that Mr Locke failed…

Former lawyer suspended for recklessly exposing employees to pornography in the office

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) determined that a former lawyer (Mr Damian Botherway) engaged in misconduct after he exposed his employees to pornography in the office and failed to have policies in place to protect staff. The Tribunal formally censured Mr Botherway, suspended him from…

Junior lawyer censured and prohibited from practising on own account for breaching terms of practising certificate

Undertaking legal work for clients outside of the course of employment, without approval to practise on own account and in circumstances where there was a clear conflict of interest has led to two findings of misconduct against former lawyer Mohammad Faran Shahzad (Mr Shahzad). The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers…

Lawyer suspended for 12 months after “woeful” lack of understanding of professional obligations

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) determined that Auckland lawyer Tae Wok Kwon engaged in two counts of misconduct and one count of negligence after he accepted instructions in a complex family law matter (while having little to no family law expertise), failed to make appearances…

Disciplinary Tribunal dismisses charge in relation to duty of candour

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (Tribunal) considered a charge alleging that a lawyer, Mr P, had breached the duty of utmost candour in a without notice application for a parenting order. The Tribunal found Mr P made a minor error but considered he had made reasonable enquiries…

Former practitioner ordered to refund fees and apologise to client for overcharging

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found that a former practitioner (Mr P) engaged in unsatisfactory conduct by overcharging a client $12,442.63. The Tribunal considered the overcharging was of “modest scope” and had not been done deliberately, commending the practitioner for accepting that the client was…

Lawyer suspended for 15 months for “appalling and uncouth” conduct at Christmas parties

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has found a practitioner, referred to as ZKA, engaged in misconduct at two work Christmas parties. The conduct involved inappropriate touching, as well as “objectifying and de-humanising comments” directed mostly towards junior staff members. The Tribunal suspended ZKA…