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

1392 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 104/2016 and LCRO 192/2016 LP v PR (27 June 2019) [PDF, 223 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / relationship property proceedings / lawyer’s client was trust / failure to provide terms of engagement to all trustees / failure to report to all trustees / lawyer seeks review of orders / reverse brief / whether lawyer acting for applicant / whether applicant liable for fees / HELD / complainant was trustee / Office has no jurisdiction on questions of liability for fees / no evidence to support lawyer’s arguments on review / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  2. LCRO 40/2018 RS v DL (27 June 2019) [PDF, 173 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / employment dispute / complaint lawyer acted without instructions and breached privilege / Evidence Act 2006, section 54 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 8.4(g) / B v Auckland District Law Society [2004] 1 NZLR 326 (PC) / Complaints Assessment Committee v Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal [2005] 3 NZLR 447 (CA) / whether privilege has been waived / HELD / applicant waived privilege / no conduct issues arise / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  4. LCRO 78/2017 UT v HB (26 June 2019) [PDF, 346 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / preparation of will / will-maker died before signing new will / complaint lawyer failed to act in a timely manner / did not follow instructions / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 7 / rule 7.1 / Gertside v Sheffield, Young & Ellis [1983] NZLR 37 (CA) / Rosenberg Estate v Black (2001) ACWS (3d) (ONCJ) / whether lawyer followed up instructions with client / HELD / lawyer should have followed up with client / breach of rule 3 / breach of rule 7.1 / unsatisfactory conduct / no other conduct issues arise / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  6. LCRO 246/2016 AS v NL (25 June 2019) [PDF, 170 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / protection order and relationship property proceedings / lawyer seeks review of orders / barrister sole / did not have instructing solicitor / failed to provide required information prior to commencing retainer / failed to act in a timely and competent manner / did not issue invoices / breached trust account rules / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 110 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 9 / regulation 10 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 3.4A / rule 9.4 / rule 9.6 / rule 14.2(e) / rule 14.4 / whether fees fair and reasonable / HELD / lawyer charged fees for work not completed / lawyer ordered to refund fees / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  7. LCRO 272/2016 XK v JB (24 June 2019) [PDF, 346 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / estate administration / instructions for new will / will-maker died before instructions carried out / lawyer failed to send invoice / did not act in a competent and timely manner / failure to file estate tax returns / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 9(2) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / administration of mortgage / HELD / lawyer acting for estate / lawyer administered mortgage correctly / lawyer should refund costs due to failure to file tax returns / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  8. LCRO 243/2016 KE v HO (21 June 2019) [PDF, 272 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / lawyer made allegations attacking reputation / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.8 / rule 13.8 / obligation to report misconduct / whether lawyer had good cause to make allegations / trust account accuracy / HELD / lawyer had reasonable grounds to make allegations / risk lawyer could not meet obligations to both clients / breach of rule 6.1 / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  10. LCRO 48/2014 M LJ and the trustees of the M LJ Family Trust v PY (5 June 2019) [PDF, 219 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / sale of relationship property / lawyer instructed jointly / lawyer did not pay money from trust account / complaint lawyer had a conflict of interest and communicated directly with another lawyer’s client / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 6.1 / rule 10.2 / lawyer as stakeholder of funds / whether lawyer could discharge duties to both clients / scope of retainer / informed consent / HELD / lawyer failed to gain informed consent from clients / risk lawyer could not meet obligations to both clients / breach of rule 6.1 / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  11. LCRO 28/2017 HK v TX (31 May 2019) [PDF, 205 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / sale of property / complaint  lawyer did not provide letter of engagement / failed to follow instructions / pressured client to agree to settlement / did not explain court orders / colluded with opposing counsel / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3.1 / rule 5.1 / rule 8 / rule 10 / former lawyers / proper standards of professionalism / respect and courtesy / HELD / no evidence lawyer pressured client to sign settlement agreement / lawyer’s emails to opposing counsel unprofessional / distressing to client / breach of rule 3.1 and rule 5.1 / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  12. LCRO 82/2018 ZI v WS (30 May 2019) [PDF, 242 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / relationship property dispute / notice of claim lapsed / review seeks compensation / lawyer failed to keep client informed / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 107(1) / section 156(1)(d) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committees) Regulations 2008, regulation 32 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 6 / rule 10 / former lawyers / proper standards of professionalism / whether losses flowed from lawyer’s conduct / HELD / conduct rules binding on former lawyers / lawyer failed to make attempt to contact client / some duties continue after retainer terminated / client’s losses do not flow from lawyer’s failure / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  14. LCRO 186/2017 and 84/2018 WE v VF (28 May 2019) [PDF, 190 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / private criminal prosecution / lawyer had previously acted for respondent / complaint lawyer had a conflict of interest / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 8.7 / rule 8.7.1 / duty to protect confidential information / HELD / lawyer did not remember respondent / lawyer withdrew from acting when made aware of the conflict of interest / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  16. LCRO 68/2016 ZA v YB (23 May 2019) [PDF, 202 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / preparation of will / administration of estate / complaint lawyer failed to act competently / provide information on services / treat applicant with respect and courtesy / keep applicant informed / 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 3.4 / rule 3.5 / rule 7 / fees issued two years prior to complaint / HELD / Committee directed to reconsider competence and fee complaints / section 209(1)(a) / lawyer did not keep client’s informed / unsatisfactory conduct / no evidence to support other complaints / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  17. LCRO 160/2016 ET v NE (23 May 2019) [PDF, 203 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / criminal conviction appeal / respondent is a barrister sole / payment of retainer / complaint respondent had failed to act competently / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 9 / rule 9.1 / rule 9.4 / rule 14.4 / whether lawyer provided fees estimate / intervention rule / duty to keep instructing lawyer informed of progress / HELD / no fee estimate provided / fees fair and reasonable / respondent’s advice competent / no evidence to support other complaints / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  18. LCRO 98/2018 and 201/2018 HK v CN (22 May 2019) [PDF, 238 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / property sale and purchase / agreement cancelled / law clerk acted on transaction / complaint lawyer wrongly declared agreement unconditional / failed to properly advise client / failed to keep client informed / failed to supervise employee / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 11.3 / Canterbury Westland Standards Committee v Simes [2012] NZLCDT 4 / DV v LS and HS LCRO 91/2017 (19 December 2018) / HELD / lawyer failed to properly advise client on agreements / failed to supervise law clerk / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  20. LCRO 114/2018 CL v [City] Standards Committee [X] (17 May 2019) [PDF, 160 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / own motion investigation / management of trust account / providing false certificates to Law Society / misleading and deceptive conduct / failure to disclose how fees charged / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.5 / rule 3.4 / rule 11.1 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 6(3) / regulation 11(2) / regulation 11(3) / regulation 11(4) / regulation 16(4) / regulation 17(1) / whether Committee should make adverse comments about consultant / HELD / comments about consultant unwarranted / Committee’s decision modified / breach of trust account regulations unacceptable / lawyer failed to disclose how fees were charged / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  21. LCRO 172/2015 and 173/2015 WL v XC and HF v XC (16 May 2019) [PDF, 269 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / relationship property dispute / complaint lawyer made unfounded allegations in litigation / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 5.3 / rule 13.8 / Rondel v Worsley [1969] 1 AC 191 (HL) / Medcalf v Mardell [2003] 1 AC 120 (HL) / whether there was good cause to make allegations / HELD / lawyer did not have good cause to make allegations / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  22. LCRO 167/2016 LQ v TM (13 May 2019) [PDF, 181 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / dispute over estate management / complaint lawyer failed to supply information / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 12 / GH v UF LCRO 22/2011 (9 November 2011) / RQ and RR v MZ LCRO 127/2011 (2 October 2012) / third party duties / HELD / applicant not lawyer’s client / lawyer had responded to applicant / no professional standards issues arise / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)