Former lawyer censured for dishonest conduct

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (Tribunal) censured former lawyer Kelly Anne Jamieson following her acceptance of a charge of misconduct for misleading her employer about her need to take bereavement leave and for creating a false obituary. The Tribunal considered the conduct was at the lower end…

Disciplinary Tribunal dismisses charge in relation to intimate relationship with client

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (Tribunal) has dismissed a charge alleging that a lawyer, Mr J, entered into an intimate relationship with a client (Ms X) while acting in a domestic relations matter. Ms X alleged there had been a sexual relationship, which the Tribunal did not…

Negligence in preparing a will and acting whilst conflicted results in censure, fine, compensation and supervision

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made penalty orders in respect of Waikato practitioner, John Edward Clifford Anderson, who accepted a charge of negligence/incompetence reflecting on fitness to practise and tending to bring the profession into disrepute. Mr Anderson executed important legal documents for an elderly…

Unauthorised employment of a suspended lawyer is misconduct

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (Tribunal) has censured and fined lawyer Peter Joseph Jefferies. Mr Jefferies accepted a charge of misconduct for knowingly employing a suspended lawyer, without the required consent from the Tribunal or High Court. The Tribunal determined employing a lawyer without consent was a…

Failure to comply with an information request from a Standards Committee is misconduct

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (Tribunal) has suspended lawyer Michael Lucas for one month after he accepted a charge of misconduct for failing to comply with a formal information request issued by a Standards Committee (Committee). The Tribunal found Mr Lucas' repeated failure to respond to a request…

Former lawyer censured for failures to client and Court

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancer Disciplinary Tribunal has censured a former practitioner, known as Mr D, for misconduct in relation to a civil litigation matter. The Tribunal noted the case was “a cautionary tale about the need to pay attention to one’s mental health and engage in productive rather…

Lawyer struck off for counselling unlawful arrangement

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off Auckland lawyer Vivian Wei Ma for assisting a client to subvert the Overseas Investment Act 2005 in relation to the purchase of property in New Zealand and for failing to establish a retainer and acting in circumstances of conflicting duties. The Tribunal…

Supreme Court grants interim stay of suspension

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal ordered that Gautam Jindal be suspended for six months. Mr Jindal unsuccessfully appealed that decision and then sought leave for a further appeal. He was declined leave by the High Court and Court of Appeal but has now sought leave from the…

Failing to address conflicts of interest leads to fines, censure and compensation

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made penalty orders in respect of former practitioner Richard Lyell Moore, who accepted a charge of negligence, and in respect of practitioner Robert Joseph Moore, who accepted a charge of misconduct, for failing to identify and appropriately manage conflicts…

Employee found to have engaged in misconduct for misappropriating client funds

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) made penalty orders prohibiting a former employee of a law firm (Ms Y) from being employed by a lawyer or firm without the Tribunal’s consent after she admitted misappropriating client funds. Ms Y admitted a charge of misconduct for misleading…