The appellant lawyer sought a stay of a Hearing Division order revoking her licence pending her appeal of the professional misconduct findings and penalty.
The lawyer had been found to have engaged in professional misconduct by attempting to mislead opposing counsel and the court about a settlement offer and threatening a Law Society complaint to gain a benefit.
The Tribunal denied the stay, finding that while the appeal raised a serious issue and the lawyer would suffer irreparable harm, the balance of convenience did not favour a stay.
The seriousness of the misconduct, the risk of further misconduct, and the need to protect the public and maintain confidence in the profession outweighed the impact on the lawyer's clients.
