Lawyer ordered to apologise for misleading and discourteous emails

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has ordered a practitioner to apologise for two emails which were discourteous and misleading in nature.  The practitioner (whom was given name suppression) accepted a charge of unsatisfactory conduct. The Tribunal made an order that the lawyer apologise to the…

Former lawyer suspended for nine months for tax evasion

Failing to file GST returns, pay GST or submit income tax returns over a ten year period has led to a nine month suspension for former Christchurch lawyer Christopher Persson. The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found that Mr Persson’s offending was serious and included a…

“Cautionary tale” – Tribunal raises concern around lack of understanding of conflicts of interest rules

Failing to recognise and appropriately manage conflicts while acting for two clients has led to a $15,000 fine and censure for Auckland lawyer Lizandra Bailey. The Tribunal noted its concern that dealing with conflicts was a risk area for the profession.  

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…