Lawyer fined for failing to appropriately manage capacity issue and conflict of interest

Failing to recognise and appropriately manage issues with capacity and conflict of interest has led to a $3,000 fine for Huntly lawyer Alan Wilson. Mr Wilson acted for both sides in a property transaction where there was a clear divergence of interests between the parties. He failed to recognise the…

Lawyer suspended for failing to protect client interests and inadequate practice management

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found Wellington practitioner Justine King (Ms King) guilty of one charge of misconduct for failing to protect her client’s interests in respect of a Family Court matter and two charges of negligence and incompetence which related to her inadequate management…

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

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has suspended former lawyer Philip James Bellamy (Mr Bellamy) for four months after he failed to comply with an information request sent by a Standards Committee. Mr Bellamy accepted that he had engaged in misconduct. The Tribunal agreed and noted…

Aaron Nicholls struck off for misappropriating client funds

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has struck off former Auckland lawyer Aaron Rodney Nicholls (Mr Nicholls) after he admitted misappropriating $700,000 of trust account funds and providing false statements to conceal his wrongdoing. Mr Nicholls had been suspended on an interim basis since 17 April…

Failure to uphold duty of confidence to former client is misconduct

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) made a finding of misconduct against Auckland lawyer Rodger Preston Chambers (Mr Chambers) after he discussed a criminal case in which he acted 19 years earlier with a news reporter. The Tribunal cautioned the profession that unless authorised otherwise by…

Lawyer censured for failing to properly manage close relationship with client

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made penalty orders in respect of Dunedin lawyer Christopher Medlicott, who accepted a charge of negligence for failing to appropriately respond to a conflict of interest that arose from his close personal relationship with a client and unsatisfactory conduct…

Former lawyer fined for moderately serious unsatisfactory conduct

Breaches of professional standards while assisting with a residential care subsidy matter have led to a finding of unsatisfactory conduct and a fine for former lawyer Johannes (Jacques) van Noort. Mr van Noort was engaged by the K family to assist in seeking a subsidy for residential care for their…

Former lawyer struck off for misappropriating client funds

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found former lawyer David Small guilty of misconduct for misappropriating at least $97,000 in client funds. Mr Small admitted to using client funds for his own personal benefit and operating a trust account without a practising certificate. The Tribunal ordered that Mr…

Lawyer fined, censured and ordered to pay compensation for failing to progress client matter for two years

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found practitioner Clair Elder guilty of misconduct for failing to finalise a relationship property settlement for almost two years despite repeatedly being followed up by counsel for the other side. Ms Elder had previously been warned for failing to progress matters in…

Former lawyer censured, ordered to repay fees and apologise for conduct in relationship property matter

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found former lawyer Robyn Leach (Ms Leach) guilty of three charges relating to her conduct in handling a relationship property matter.