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1349 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 222/2017 RD v LC and BT (31 July 2019) [PDF, 144 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / complaint lawyer failed to act promptly and competently on mortgage default matter / HELD / purpose of Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 205 / no reasonable course of action is whether facts, objectively, justify reconsideration / frivolous or vexatious if obviously unsustainable / complainant’s instructions were to take lenient approach towards defaulting mortgagors / complainant liable for fees / application for review struck out / section 205(1)(a)
  3. LCRO 166/2018 KZ v AB (16 July 2019) [PDF, 150 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / bankruptcy / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committees) Regulations 2008, regulation 29 / Cortez Investments Ltd v Olphert & Collins [1984] 2 NZLR 434 (CA) / fees issued more than two years prior to complaint / HELD / no evidence fees conditional on annulling bankruptcy / not demonstrated special circumstances exist / no jurisdiction / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  4. LCRO 185/2018 GT v NE (16 July 2019) [PDF, 206 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / company insolvency / conduct prior to 1 August 2008 / complaint lawyer engaged in misconduct / HELD / no evidence of professional standards issue / costs against lay applicant / reasons for engaging disciplinary process difficult to identify, motivation for complaint stated as compensation / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 210(1) / $900 costs order / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  5. LCRO 239/2017 AB v CD (3 July 2019) [PDF, 250 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / property dispute / complaint lawyer failed to act in client’s best interests / failed to present counter-offer / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 13.3 / failed to incorporate term into settlement / insufficient evidence of failure to provide alternative options / HELD / duties regarding instructions during litigation / Gilbert v Shanahan [1998] 3 NZLR 529 (CA) / Hall v R [2015] NZCA 403 / R v Pointon [1985] 1 NZLR 109 (CA) / applicant unable to prove on balance of probabilities lawyer instructed to make counter-offer and failed to advise litigation alternatives / lawyer did not keep file note of relevant interaction / Committee’s decision reversed / section 211(1)(a)
  6. LCRO 211/2018 AB v CD (3 July 2019) [PDF, 256 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / property dispute / complaint respondent failed to act in applicant’s best interests / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9 / rule 9.1 / whether fees fair and reasonable / seven invoices not considered fair and reasonable by assessor / Committee did not consider junior barrister’s fees and additional issues / Cortez Investments Ltd v Olphert & Collins [1984] 2 NZLR 434 (CA) / AT v ZH LCRO 127/2013 (26 March 2014) / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Complaints Service and Standards Committees) Regulations 2008, regulation 29 / HELD / invoices under $2,000 relate to a single legal service, special circumstances found / no fee reduction necessary on the facts as respondent’s fees fall within acceptable range / Committee to reconsider junior barrister’s fees and additional issues / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a) / section 209(1…
  8. LCRO 3/2017 and LCRO 148/2017 McDonnell v LA (28 June 2019) [PDF, 436 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / estate administration / jointly held property / lawyer acted for husband and wife / husband died / conflict of interest / failed to administer estate in timely manner / failed to act competently / Committee ordered publication of determination and lawyer’s name / Property (Relationships) Act 1976 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 6.1 / rule 8.7.1 / public confidence in legal profession / consumer protection / disciplinary history / HELD / lawyer’s advice on estate administration wrong / could not act for estate and wife / conflict of interest / appropriate lawyer’s name is published / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  9. LCRO 137/2017 and LCRO 33/2018 CH v RB and GN (28 June 2019) [PDF, 192 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / estate administration / complaint lawyer deducted fees from trust account / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 110 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 9 / whether authority to deduct fees had been revoked / delay in issuing invoice / HELD / authority to deduct fees had not been revoked / delay in issuing invoice unsatisfactory / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  11. LCRO 228/2016 SP v QH (27 June 2019) [PDF, 324 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / preparation of will / lawyer failed to release client’s files to new lawyers in reasonable time / failed to render bill in reasonable time / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 4.4.1 / rule 9.6 / Wilson v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2016] NZHC 2288 / whether delay in releasing files unreasonable / whether fees charged for work not done / HELD / delay of over a month unreasonable / fees charged for copying files unreasonable / unsatisfactory conduct / lawyer failed to act promptly on instructions / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  12. LCRO 205/2015 R and N FAMILY TRUST v EL (27 June 2019) [PDF, 314 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / arbitration clause dispute / complaint lawyer failed to act competently / fee complaint / Arbitration Act 1996, section 11 / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3 / rule 9 / rule 9.1 / whether lawyer’s fees for copying files were unreasonable / HELD / lawyer acted competently / fees charged for copying files unreasonable / unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  13. 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)
  14. 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)
  16. 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)
  18. 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)
  19. 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)
  20. 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)
  22. 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)
  23. 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)
  24. 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)