Shayne Chapman

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Legal Services Commissioner brought a single charge of charging excessive fees against solicitor Shaye Chapman. She had charged a client $674,249.54 in professional fees, which was reduced by 42% on costs assessment and review (to $362,775.90 professional fees). The Tribunal found the conduct constituted professional misconduct due to the significant disparity and reasons for it (duplication, excessive charging, improper time-unit billing, etc.). She was publicly reprimanded, subjected to a 5-year practising certificate condition barring deferred-fee retainers, ordered to undertake the QLS Remedial Ethics course, and to pay the LSC's costs. No dishonesty was alleged or found. The complainant's claim for a $7,500 compensation order was dismissed as no pecuniary loss causally connected to the overcharging was established, given Judge McGill's earlier reconciliation of amounts.

Duties found breached:

• Fair, reasonable and lawful fees

Aggravating factors:

• Experienced practitioner (11-12 years in practice at time of conduct)
• Solely responsible for the large sum overcharged
• No evidence of addressing complainant's concerns or making offers of compromise
• No rehabilitative professional development undertaken
• Initially maintained no wrongdoing to the Commission
• Significant disparity of 42% between charged and assessed costs

Mitigating factors:

• No disciplinary history in Queensland
• Ultimately conceded conduct constituted professional misconduct
• Apologised to complainant
• No longer accepts deferred fee retainers; 95% of work now fixed fee
• Cooperated via statement of agreed facts and agreed sanction