You can search by selecting a jurisdiction, a keyword (for example a name) or browse by year.
Some jurisdictions only publish a selection of decisions. Identifying details may be removed.

Helpful search tips:

  • If you are looking for a specific decision with a forward slash in the title (eg, 123/2014), you will need to replace the forward slash with a space (eg, 123 2014), as the website cannot pick up on forward slashes (/) or any other characters.
  • If you are doing a keyword search (eg. misconduct), please note that this search will only produce decisions where the keyword appears in the title or decision description. If you want to search the entire decision document for certain keywords, you will need to use full website search located in the top right hand corner of this page.
  • If you want to search for a decision from a particular jurisdiction using the full website search, put both the jurisdiction name and the keyword in the search field (eg, LCRO misconduct).
Search results

1009 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 195/2017 LH v SR and HP (19 March 2019) [PDF, 229 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / preparation of wills / instructions withdrawn / complaint lawyer acted without instructions / did not act in a timely manner / did not provide documents upon request / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 3.2 / rule 4  / rule 4.4.1 / rule 7.2 / rule 9 / Groom v Crocker [1939] 1 KB 194 (CA) / whether lawyer can assert a lien over files / whether lawyer’s retainer had been terminated / HELD / lawyer had no right to assert a lien over client’s files / lawyer obliged to release documents on request / failed to act on instructions in a timely manner / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  2. LCRO 108/2016 WJ v FM (19 March 2019) [PDF, 146 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / property purchase / lawyer also acting for vendor / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 6.1 / rule 6.1.1 / rule 6.1.2 / Farrington v Rowe McBride & Partners [1985] 1 NZLR 83 (CA) / Taylor v Schofield Peterson [1999] 3 NZLR 434 (HC) / conflict of interest / whether lawyer had informed consent to act / HELD / lawyer did not obtain consent to act / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  3. LCRO 20/2016 LC and CM v JP (19 March 2019) [PDF, 238 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / property purchase / authority to release deposit / complaint lawyer released deposit without instructions / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3.1 / rule 6.1 / rule 10 / rule 10.1 / respect and courtesy / whether lawyer obtained informed instructions from both clients / HELD / lawyer failed to obtain informed consent / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  4. LCRO 185/2017 DO v DP (18 March 2019) [PDF, 237 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / sale of property / repayment of loan / complaint lawyer did not obtain consent to repay loan / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 110(1)(b) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 12(6) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / Hansen v Young [2004] 1 NZLR 37 (CA) / Heslop v Cousins [2007] 3 NZLR 679 (CA) / AW v ZK LCRO 230/2012 (28 March 2014) / scope of instructions / lawyer as trustee / HELD / lawyer did not obtain instructions to repay the loan / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  7. LCRO 252/2016 MY on behalf of BAT Ltd (12 March 2019) [PDF, 250 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / debt recovery / preparation of statutory demand / complaint lawyer did not provide required information / fee complaint / did not protect client’s interests / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3.4 / rule 3.5  / rule 9 / rule 10.1 / whether lawyer provided a quote for fees / whether debt was undisputed / HELD / lawyer had a duty not to mislead the court / no evidence that lawyer provided a quote / fees fair and reasonable / lawyer failed to provide information in advance / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  8. LCRO 151/2017 NS v ET (12 March 2019) [PDF, 130 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / ACC claim / lawyer was acting under legal aid / fee complaint / Real Estate Agents Act 2008, section 123 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9 / rule 9.2 / rule 9.5 / whether client agreed to pay higher fees / duty to inform client of whether lawyer is prepared to work on legal aid / HELD / lawyer had a duty of care to vulnerable client / client did not agree to pay for work / fees not fair and reasonable / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  10. LCRO 173/2018 YN v LT (7 March 2019) [PDF, 186 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / complaint lawyer refused to act for applicant / did not treat applicant with respect and courtesy / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3.1 / rule 4 / rule 4.1 / rule 4.1.1 / rule 4.1.3 / whether lawyer had good cause to refuse instructions  / whether lawyer discriminated against applicant / HELD / no evidence that lawyer was discourteous or discriminated against the applicant / Committee direct to reconsider whether lawyer had good cause to refuse instructions / section 209(1)(a)
  12. LCRO 255/2016 WR v VB (4 March 2019) [PDF, 176 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / employment dispute / complaint lawyer did not release funds as required / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committees) Regulations 2008, regulation 29 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9 / AO v ZH LCRO 301/2011 (12 March 2014) / whether estimate provided / HELD / lawyer holding funds due to undertaking / lawyer must release funds as required by undertaking / no conduct issues arise / estimate did not cover subsequent fees / fees fair and reasonable / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  13. LCRO 254/2016 WR v MH (4 March 2019) [PDF, 109 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / lawyer acted in employment dispute and criminal charges / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committees) Regulations 2008, regulation 29 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9 / AO v ZH LCRO 301/2011 (12 March 2014) / whether estimate provided / HELD / estimate did not cover subsequent fees / fees fair and reasonable / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  14. LCRO 275/2016 KN v YL (4 March 2019) [PDF, 277 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / accountancy firm / complaint lawyer was a principal of the firm / was not independent of the firm / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 7(3) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 5.5 / rule 5.9 / conflict of interests / whether lawyer sharing income with accountancy firm / HELD / insufficient evidence to support allegations / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  16. LCRO 75/2016 XN and WN v VO (25 February 2019) [PDF, 242 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / property dispute / complaint lawyer obtained consent by deceit / used legal process for improper purpose / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 6 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.3 / rule 11 / rule 11.1 / Wilson v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2016] NZHC 2288 / EA v ABO LCRO 237/2010 (29 September 2011) / AB v AC LCRO 1/2017 (26 January 2018) / RK v LP LCRO 292/2011 (1 October 2012) / BU v DG LCRO 276/2011 (17 September 2013) / whether lawyer acting in personal capacity / HELD / lawyer acting in professional capacity / no conduct issues arise / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  17. LCRO 158/2015 PL v VD (21 February 2019) [PDF, 178 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / contractual dispute / allegation of fraud / complaint applicant made a threat for improper purpose / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.7 / rule 2.10 / rule 13.8.1 / SC v JT LCRO 382/2013 (30 June 2017) / threat to use complaints process for improper purpose / HELD / applicant threatened to use complaints process to gain advantage in litigation / breach of rule 2.10 / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  19. LCRO 76/2018 HS v WA (19 February 2019) [PDF, 175 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / updating of relationship property agreement / complaint lawyer did not properly advise client / did not act competently or with care / Property (Relationships) Act 1976, section 21F / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / HELD / applicant properly advised by lawyer / no evidence to support allegations / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  20. LCRO 143/2017 AC v BT (19 February 2019) [PDF, 211 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / sale of property / relationship property dispute / complaint lawyer had a conflict of interest / lacked respect and courtesy / was not competently supervised and managed / Property (Relationships) Act 1976, section 21F / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 6 / rule 8.7.1 / Sandy v Kahn LCRO 181/2009 (25 December 2009) / AD v ZX LCRO 87/2010 (14 December 2010) / Black v Taylor [1993] 3 NZLR 403 (CA) / GBR Investment Ltd v Keung HC Christchurch CIV-2009-409-1486, 19 March 2010 / duty of confidence / HELD / insufficient information provided to Committee / not possible to determine issues / Committee directed to reconsider complaint / section 209 / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  22. LCRO 046/2018 HD v BK (18 February 2019) [PDF, 113 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / updating of relationship property agreement / complaint lawyer had a conflict of interest / did not act competently or with care / Property (Relationships) Act 1976, section 21F / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 6 / whether applicant had received independent advice / HELD / applicant not client of lawyer / applicant received independent advice / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  23. LCRO 52/2016 and 57/2016 BF v ZL (18 February 2019) [PDF, 203 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / sales of shares / liquidation of company / applicant not client of lawyer / conflict of interest / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 6 / rule 6.1 / whether lawyer obtained informed consent to act for both parties / HELD / lawyer did not obtain informed consent to act for both parties / both parties were the same person / further action not appropriate / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  24. LCRO 132/2018 PY v SD (15 February 2019) [PDF, 106 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / disciplinary complaint / complaint lawyer did not treat applicant with respect and courtesy / development failed / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 10 / rule 12 / proper standards of professionalism / HELD / comments not shared with others / comments were opinion / not possible to reach a view / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  25. LCRO 202/2017 LO v RT (4 February 2019) [PDF, 173 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / property purchase / development failed / second complaint / R (Coke-Wallis) v Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales [2011] UKSC 1, [2011] 2 AC 146 / Rae v International Insurance Brokers (Nelson Marlborough Ltd) [1998] 3 NZLR 190 (CA) / whether applicant had any new evidence to justify reopening the complaint / HELD / new evidence not strong enough to justify reopening complaint / applicant not client of lawyer  / limited duties owed to applicant / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)