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

1424 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 215/2016 KP v VN (31 July 2018) [PDF, 182 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / complaint lawyer had previously acted for complainant / conflict of interest / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 6 / rule 6.1 / rule 8 / rule 8.7.1 / Prince Jefri Bolkiah v KPMG (a firm) [1992] 2 AC 222 (HL) / whether lawyer in possession of confidential  or relevant information / HELD / complainant had never been client of lawyer / no obligations of confidence / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  3. LCRO 121/2017 PT v BD (25 July 2018) [PDF, 266 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / complaint lawyer withdrew as counsel before trial / whether complainant owed fees / terms of engagement / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 4.2 / rule 11.3 / non-payment of fees / supervision of employees / HELD / withdrawal of lawyer does not raise any conduct issues / retainer was with firm / firm continued to act / lawyer continued to supervise firm’s employees / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  4. LCRO 225/2015 MM v QK (24 July 2018) [PDF, 194 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declines to take further action on complaint / complaint lawyer sent a threatening letter / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.3 / rule 2.7 / use of legal processes for improper purpose / lawyer objected to comments made by the Committee / HELD / letter sent for proper purpose / letter did not contain threat / Committee’s comments modified / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  6. LCRO 226/2017 OM and RA v BL and DG (20 July 2018) [PDF, 97 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / property purchase dispute / complaint lawyers negligent / failure to advance Property Law Act 2007 claims / fee complaints / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committee) Regulations 2008, regulation 29 / more than two years since invoices rendered / whether lawyer should have included document in affidavit / HELD / no evidence to support complaint / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  7. LCRO 186/2016 KS v WX (20 July 2018) [PDF, 188 KB]

    Complaint / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / fees not fair and reasonable / failure to repay client funds held in trust account / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 110 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9 / rule 9.6 / Heslop v Cousins [2007] 3 NZLR 679 (HC) / Abbot v Macclesfield LCRO 40/2009 (29 May 2009) / open and transparent billing / reasonable time to render final account / HELD / final accounts not rendered within a reasonable time / fees not fair and reasonable / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  8. LCRO 54/2018 KJ v VW (6 July 2018) [PDF, 180 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / conflict of interests / purchase of property / overpayment of deposit / lawyer acting for vendors / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 12 / RQ and RR v MZ LCRO 127/2011 (2 October 2012) / CW v XB LCRO 213/2010 (15 June 2011) / whether lawyer should have noticed overpayment / third party duties / HELD / purchasers had their own representation / failure to notice overpayment an honest mistake / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)  
  9. LCRO 186/2015 TL RH LTD & TL HOLDINGS LTD v QG (6 July 2018) [PDF, 118 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / lawyer ceased acting for clients / complaint lawyer mislead court and increased complainants costs / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 12 / third party duties / respect and courtesy / discovery obligations / termination of retainer / HELD / limited duties owed to complainants / no evidence lawyer breached duties owed to third party / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  10. LCRO 201/2017 ZK v XM (29 June 2018) [PDF, 288 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / will dispute / complaint lawyer failed to check property status / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 6 / rule 7 / rule 7.1 / Woods v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2013] NZHC 674 / AG v ZT LCRO 159/2010 (18 February 2011) / scope of retainer / duty to act in clients best interests / competence / HELD / lawyer should have checked property title / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  12. LCRO 33/2016 GW v AX (27 June 2018) [PDF, 292 KB]

    Complaint / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / lawyer claimed lien over passport / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 rule 3.4 / rule 3.5 / rule 3.6 / Vallant Hooker and Partners v Proceedings Commissioner [2001] 2 NZLR 357 (HC) / Xu v Council of the Law Society [2009] NSWCA 430, (2009) 236 FLR 480 / Malik v Legal Complaints Service [2010] EWHC 981 (Admin) / Chand v Prakash [2012] NZIACDT 85 / lawyer sought advice from senior practitioner / HELD / passports property of government / no right to assert lien / lawyer acted on advice / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  13. LCRO 233/2014 IB v KZ (27 June 2018) [PDF, 204 KB]

    Complaint / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / lawyer threatened to “destroy” witness / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 10 / rule 11.4 / rule 13.2.1 / Medcalf v Weatherill [2002] UKHL 27 / Law Society of Upper Canada v Kay 2006 ONLSHP 58 / respect and courtesy / HELD / comment unprofessional and unsatisfactory, but not threatening or repeated / exercise of LCRO’s discretion / conduct not deserving of an unsatisfactory conduct finding / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  15. LCRO 41/2015 CL v JW and IB (26 June 2018) [PDF, 241 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / property sale / fee complaint / estimate / email not seen / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 5.11 / rule 7 / rule 11 / rule 11.3 / working day / lawyer passed away / HELD / issues of liability and compensation for the courts / firm should have ceased acting / lawyer unable to answer complaints / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  16. LCRO 240/2017 O & B HN v JJ Lawyers (22 June 2018) [PDF, 237 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / employment dispute / complainants hired employment advocate / consultant used lawyers’ offices / complaint lawyers misled complainants / Fair Trading Act 1986, section 9 / section 11 / section 43 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 11.1 / Red Eagle Corporation Ltd v Ellis [2010] NZSC 20, [2010] NZLR 492 / misleading and deceptive conduct / jurisdiction of Office / HELD / Office does not have jurisdiction to hear Fair Trading Act claims / risk of misleading public / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  21. LCRO 179/2017 VB, CB & ON v QT (14 June 2018) [PDF, 181 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / dispute with body corporate / unpaid levies / lawyer acted for body corporate / conflict of interest / authority to act / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 12 / Black v ASB Ltd [2012] NZCA 384 / jurisdiction / third party duties / HELD / complaints heard before another tribunal / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  22. LCRO 251+257+258+259+260+261/2015 TS Trust v WK, VH, Ql, IV, ZG (13 June 2018) [PDF, 220 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / relationship property dispute / client signed irrevocable instructions / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 5 / rule 5.4 / rule 6 / rule 10 / duty of independence / conflict of interest / partnership duties / HELD / lawyers had other appropriate methods to secure fees / partners entitled to accept information from other partners as correct / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  24. LCRO 116/2017 GC v KM (31 May 2018) [PDF, 420 KB]

    Complaint / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / fees not fair and reasonable / failure to keep client informed / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 3.2 / rule 3.4 / rule 3.5 / rule 7 / rule 7.1 / rule 7.2 / rule 9 / rule 9.1 / competence / terms of engagement / enduring power of attorney / cash-out clause / HELD / fees fair and reasonable / client kept informed / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  25. LCRO 168/2016 WT v MD (30 May 2018) [PDF, 269 KB]

    Complaint / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / failure to use up-to-date statute / advice incompetent / fees not fair and reasonable / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 4.2.3 / rule 9 / withdrawing from retainer / HELD / fees reasonable / client given reasonable time to terminate retainer / advice competent / failure to use up-to-date statute unsatisfactory / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)