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

1349 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 283/2014 AD v FR and OR (31 August 2018) [PDF, 219 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / dispute with real estate agents / lawyer threatened to make complaint about agents / threatening to use legal processes for improper purpose / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 2.3 / rule 2.7 / rule 2.10 / SC v JT LCRO 382/2013 (30 June 2017) / whether demand for compensation improper / HELD / purpose of disciplinary regimes consumer protection / use of threat of disciplinary action improper / fine excessive and reduced on review / Committee’s decision otherwise confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  2. LCRO 272/2015 PA v NT, RO and DS (31 August 2018) [PDF, 214 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / estate dispute / lawyers were executors and trustees of estate / complaint about sale of property to beneficiary of estate / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 7 / rule 7.1 / Hansen v Young [2004] 1 NZLR 37 (CA) / Morpeth v Ramsey LCRO 110/2009 (12 November 2009) / whether lawyers providing regulated services / HELD / partners in firm cannot be subject of complaint if they have not been involved / actions taken as trustee not reviewable by Office / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  3. LCRO 144/2016 QT v UF (24 August 2018) [PDF, 245 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / conflict of interests / failure to provide competent advice / lawyer acted as lender and borrower in a loan agreement / review of penalty decision / Saxmere Co Ltd v New Zealand Wool Board Disestablishment Co Ltd [2009] NZSC 35, [2010] 1 NZLR 35 / AF v X LCRO 84/2014 (8 October 2014) / bias of Committee member / previous disciplinary history / HELD / no evidence of bias in Committee’s decision / no disciplinary history at the time conduct occurred / fine reduced / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)
  5. LCRO 71/2016 ZB v YA (23 August 2018) [PDF, 230 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / lawyer was director of a company which rented property from complainant / complaint lawyer mislead complainant / Committee held it lacked jurisdiction as it was a dispute between landlord and tenant / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 12 / respect and courtesy / HELD / lawyer not acting in a professional capacity / no evidence of misconduct or unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  6. LCRO 7/2016 Mr and Mrs YJ v XW (22 August 2018) [PDF, 166 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / property purchase / lawyer acted for vendor and purchaser / complaint lawyer failed to explain fees / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 3.4 / Wilson v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2016] NZHC 2288 / provision of information to client / conduct rules not to be enforced in an overly technical manner / HELD / fees fair and reasonable / breach of rule 3.4 excusable rather than unsatisfactory conduct / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  8. LCRO 124/2016 LE v AP and MC (20 August 2018) [PDF, 191 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / fees complaint / complaint lawyers misfiled appeal / failed to keep client informed / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 161 / section 210 / recovery of fees by lawyer / HELD / no evidence that lawyers had failed to communicate / no issues raised by lawyer filing appeal early / fee complaint has previously been considered by another Committee / lawyers able to seek recovery of fees / costs ordered against applicant / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  10. LCRO 254/2015 CW v QA (13 August 2018) [PDF, 108 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / employment dispute / fee complaint / client entered arrangement to pay fees over time / client stopped paying fees / lawyer ceased acting until fees paid / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9.10 / whether there was a conditional fee agreement / HELD / bankruptcy matter of public knowledge / lawyer should have informed client of consequences of bankruptcy / no requirement for lawyer to waive fees / no conditional fee agreement / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  13. LCRO 22/2018 AE v BD (7 August 2018) [PDF, 114 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaints / rent renewal dispute / complaint lawyer failed to forward email to client / fee complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 7 / Wilson v Legal Complaints Review Officer [2016] NZHC 2288 / duty to disclose relevant information to client / conduct rules should not be enforced in an unduly technical manner  / HELD / breach of rule 7 / failure to pass along email minor error / exercise of discretion / fees fair and reasonable / Committee’s decision confirmed / section 211(1)(a)
  16. 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)
  18. 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)
  19. 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)
  21. 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)
  22. 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)
  23. 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)  
  24. 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)
  25. 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)