The appellant lawyer appealed a decision of the Law Society Appeal Panel upholding a finding of professional misconduct and a penalty of a seven-month suspension and $50,000 in costs.
The misconduct arose from an estate matter where the appellant provided legal and administrative services, having the client enter into a compensation agreement with his corporation without independent legal advice.
The Divisional Court applied a reasonableness standard of review and dismissed the appeal, finding that the appellant was in a clear conflict of interest and that the penalty was within the reasonable range.
