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 H) 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 H, suspended him from practice…

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…

Lawyer struck off for misappropriating client funds

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) struck off a lawyer after she admitted misappropriating client funds. Over an eight-month period the lawyer (Ms M) transferred $203,000 in client funds from her trust account to her business accounts without authorisation. Ms M admitted to using the funds…

Lawyer censured and fined $3000 for convictions that tend to bring the profession into disrepute

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) fined and censured Wellington lawyer David Fordyce (Mr Fordyce) for being convicted of imprisonable offences which tended to bring the profession into disrepute. Mr Fordyce was convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol and then drove whilst suspended three weeks…

Lawyer suspended for harassing a fellow practitioner

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) suspended Auckland lawyer Gautam Jindal (Mr Jindal) for six months after he was found to have engaged in misconduct by publishing a website and printing flyers accusing Mr Y, a lawyer, of lying under oath in civil proceedings. The flyers were…

Lawyer suspended for improperly obtaining and disclosing neighbour’s criminal history

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has suspended Auckland lawyer Nicholas Wintour (Mr Wintour) after he was found to have engaged in misconduct by improperly accessing and disclosing private information. The Tribunal commented “as a criminal lawyer, Mr Wintour ought to understand the sensitivity of such…