Overcharging and failing to send invoices leads to six-month suspension and order not to practise on own account

Misconduct by a lawyer - “Inexcusable and reprehensible conduct” following breakdown in personal relationship

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has released its liability and penalty decisions in relation to Auckland lawyer Murray Tingey. Mr Tingey faced two charges relating to conduct towards a colleague, Ms X, with whom he was in an intermittent personal relationship. Mr Tingey accepted Charge 1…

Lawyer suspended for six months for disobeying Standards Committee orders

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has found that former Auckland lawyer Marie Devoy engaged in misconduct by disobeying the orders of the Standards Committee to deliver a file to a former client. Ms Devoy had four previous findings of unsatisfactory conduct, including for failing to act in…

Lawyer suspended for six weeks for breaching lockdown restrictions

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has found that Auckland lawyer Umar Abdul Kuddus engaged in misconduct when he deliberately crossed the Auckland boundary in breach of lockdown restrictions in September 2021. The Tribunal noted that lawyers have a duty to uphold the law and Mr…

Employee of law firm made subject of do not employ order for misappropriating funds

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made a do no employ order in respect of Rhiannon Smith (Ms Smith). While working at a law firm in an accounts role, Ms Smith misappropriated funds. A total of $2,289.66 was misappropriated and, as at the date of…

Lawyer suspended for two months for deliberately misleading client in order to conceal her failure to progress the case

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has suspended Auckland lawyer, Ms W, for a period of two months, censured her and ordered that she cannot practise on her own account unless authorised by the Tribunal. Ms W admitted to two charges of misconduct, which both related…

Lawyer struck off for misappropriation of funds

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off Takena Stirling after he admitted five charges of misconduct. The charges all related to dishonest conduct in relation to Mr Stirling’s trust account and were described by the Tribunal as “in the most serious category”. The Tribunal noted that…

Disciplinary Tribunal strikes out charge against Sue Grey

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has struck out a charge laid against Nelson lawyer Sue Grey. The charge related to comments that Ms Grey had made on social media in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Tribunal found that these comments were made in Ms Grey’s personal…

Issuing seven inaccurate invoices leads to a finding of negligence, a fine of $8,000 and a censure

Issuing seven inaccurate invoices has led to a finding of negligence for former practitioner Mr V. The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal found that Mr V’s conduct brought the profession into disrepute. The Tribunal noted that Mr V did not profit from the inaccurate invoices however and there…

Failing to make enquiries to ensure that client had sole authority to sell a business leads to unsatisfactory conduct finding

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found a former Auckland lawyer, Benjamin Bong, guilty of unsatisfactory conduct for his failure to make enquiries to ensure that his client had sole authority to sell a jointly owned business.  The Tribunal noted Mr Bong’s long career and his…