Former practitioner censured and fined for failing to discharge duties to client in estate matter

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyances Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) found former practitioner John Vincent McCardle (Mr McCardle) guilty of unsatisfactory conduct for claiming a fee to which he was not entitled and attempting to pass the administration of an estate to a lay beneficiary without taking proper steps to…

Vaughn Hill struck off for criminal convictions relating to objectionable publications

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has struck off former practitioner Vaughn Clement Hill (Mr Hill) after he was convicted of eight charges related to the possession and distribution of objectionable material. The Tribunal held there was no appropriate response short of strike-off given the serious…

Practitioner fined $1500 for breaching suppression orders

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made a finding of unsatisfactory conduct against Nelson lawyer Susan Grey (Ms Grey) for breaching a suppression order in place to protect the identity of a child in two live interviews. The Tribunal determined Ms Grey had “let her…

Incompetent representation of a client in a privacy claim is misconduct

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made penalty orders in respect of Nelson practitioner Robin Ord (Dr Ord) who accepted a charge of misconduct in respect of his representation of a client in a civil matter. Dr Ord failed to competently discharge his professional duties…

Lawyer fined and censured for negligent handling of litigation matter

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made penalty orders in respect of Auckland lawyer Natalie Tabb (Ms Tabb), who accepted a charge of negligence for failing to discharge her professional duties to her client in a litigation matter. The Tribunal held Ms Tabb’s ongoing failures…

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…