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

1326 items matching your search terms

  1. LCRO 67/2019 QN v WM and FR (8 August 2019) [PDF, 102 KB]

    Complaint / Committee declined to take further action on complaint / estate matter / complaint lawyers disclosed documents without instructions, and were slow in replying to requests / complaint motivated by court proceedings / HELD / no evidence of inappropriate disclosure or not acting promptly / review application discloses no reasonable cause of action and is an abuse of process / application for review struck out / section 205(1)(a) and section 205(1)(d)

  2. LCRO 65/2019 PT v [Area] Standards Committee [X] [PDF, 164 KB]

    Review / Committee found unsatisfactory conduct / complaint lawyer emailed copy of another partner’s Standards Committee determination to personal email / own motion inquiry following confidential report / whether information confidential / HELD / under ss 158(2A) and 213(2A) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, determinations and reviews are given to related persons / practitioners in partnership are related persons / Committee’s determination information confidential  not accepted / lawyer did not misuse document / Committee’s decision modified / section 211(1)(a)

  3. 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)

  4. 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)

  5. 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)

  6. 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)

  7. 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)

  10. 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)

  11. 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)

  12. 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)

  13. 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)

  14. 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)

  15. 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)

  16. 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)

  17. 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)

  18. 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)

  19. 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)