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discipline 30 September 2026

The duty in context

Comply with and respect court orders court

The lawyer must comply with court orders binding on them, must not aid a client in disobeying an order, and must maintain due respect and courtesy toward the court.

128 cases 52% strike-off avg suspension 12.0 mo avg fine 8,667 13 with dishonesty finding

How the codes express this duty

E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 2.5 strong 50 cases
2.5 You do not place yourself in contempt of court, and you comply with court orders which place obligations on you.
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook CD1; rC3; rC64.2 partial 33 cases
rC3 You owe a duty to the court to act with independence in the interests of justice. This duty overrides any inconsistent obligations which you may have (other than obligations under the criminal law). rC64.2 comply in due time with any decision or sentence imposed by the Bar Standards Board, a Disciplinary Tribunal, the High Court, the First Tier Tribunal ...
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 no clear equivalent
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rules 20.3.1; 20.3.2 partial 27 cases
20.3 A solicitor whose client informs the solicitor that the client intends to disobey a court's order must: 20.3.1 advise the client against that course and warn the client of its dangers; 20.3.2 not advise the client how to carry out or conceal that course...
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr12(b),80 partial 12 cases
A barrister must not engage in conduct which is: ... (b) prejudicial to the administration of justice. ... A barrister whose client informs the barrister that the client intends to disobey a court's order must: (a) advise the client against that course and warn the client of its dangers; (b) not advise the client how to carry out or conceal that course.
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch5 — Compliance with orders of the court strong 4 cases
A solicitor is obliged to comply with an order of the court, and failure to do so may amount to contempt of court. A solicitor should not aid or assist a client where the client refuses to obey an order of the court. A solicitor is bound to honour an undertaking given to the court.
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 5.1 partial 4 cases
Barristers must maintain due respect and courtesy towards the Court before which they are appearing.
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon V(a); Canon V(b) partial 1 case
(a) An Attorney shall maintain a respectful attitude towards the Court, not for the sake of the holder of any office, but for the maintenance of its supreme importance and he shall not engage in undignified or discourteous conduct which is degrading to the Court. (b) An Attorney shall encourage respect for the Courts and Judges.
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.3.1; GP.5 partial
Members owe a duty to the court to act with independence in the interests of justice. This duty overrides any inconsistent obligations which they may have... [GP.5] As officers of the court, members (and their employees) have a fundamental duty to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice. Members must adhere to the oath sworn before the Royal Court.
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 5.1-5 partial
A lawyer shall be courteous, civil, and act in good faith to the tribunal and with all persons with whom the lawyer has dealings. [Commentary [1]: a consistent pattern of rude, provocative, or disruptive conduct by the lawyer, even though unpunished as contempt, may constitute professional misconduct.]
BC Lawyers BC Code r 5.1-5 partial 3 cases
A lawyer must be courteous and civil and act in good faith to the tribunal and all persons with whom the lawyer has dealings.
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 13.2 / r 2.2 partial
A lawyer must not act in a way that undermines the processes of the court or the dignity of the judiciary. ... A lawyer must not attempt to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice.
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct B1.13 partial 1 case
You must maintain due respect and courtesy towards the court while honourably pursuing the interests of your clients.
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 13 (Respect for court or tribunal and related responsibilities) partial 4 cases
13 Respect for court or tribunal and related responsibilities
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 10.11 strong
A solicitor must comply with any order of the court requiring the solicitor or the firm to take or refrain from taking some particular course of action. ... A solicitor must not aid and abet his client to disobey a court order.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 10.34 partial
A practising barrister must at all times act with due courtesy to the Court before which he is appearing.

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

128 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern

  • Syn Kok Kay
    SG-DT lawyer Patrick Chin Syn & Co 2022-10-11 found breached text match
    Suspended for a period of three (3) years and nine (9) months, with effect from the date of discharge of his bankruptcy 1 PDF View decision
  • Gabriel Ezeh Gabman
    SDT solicitor 12333/2022 2022-09-16 text match
    Restoration to the Roll - Refused 1 PDF View decision
  • Soophia Khan
    SDT solicitor 12323/2022 2022-09-08 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Ndou, Lovemore Ray
    OLSC lawyer Lovemore Lawyers [2023] NSWCATOD 111 2022-07-28 text match

    1. Breached a Local Court order made on 21 November 2019 by using information and/or document(s) produced in those proceedings in his client’s affidavit dated 12 December 2019 and filed in the Family Court (Local Court …

    Fine Reprimand The Tribunal made an order varying the Committee’s disciplinary orders requiring Mr Ndou to complete a legal ethics course, by replacing it with an order requiring Mr Ndou to pay a fine in the sum of $2,000 within 60 days of the Tribunal’s decision $2,000.00 Appeal Status: Dismissed Appeal Decision 1 PDF View decision
  • Ooi Oon Tat
    SG-DT lawyer Judy Cheng & Co 2022-07-01 text match
    Suspended for a period of five (5) years 1 PDF View decision
  • W. Anthony Pearson
    GLC attorney 93 of 2015 2022-04-20 text match

    Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 20, 2022. || Guilty of Misconduct in a Professional Respect | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered February 28, 2022 || Formal Order (PDF) View PDF in Full Sc…

    Fined 2 PDFs View decision
  • Hodges, Stephen Paul
    OLSC solicitor 2022-03-09 text match

    Failure to comply with a Court's costs order — Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct

    Reprimand $0.00 About ​ About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact ​ Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information ​ Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot ​​Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW​ , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision
  • de Robillard, Christian Roger
    OLSC barrister (Formerly) St James Centre [2021] NSWCATOD 207 2021-12-10 text match

    Ground 1: Fundamental breaches of the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015, in summary: 1. invoking the coercive powers of the Supreme Court against an officer of the Court (solicitor) resulting in t…

    Order recommending removal of lawyer's name from the Roll of Australian Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 2 PDFs View decision
  • Angela Walker
    LSC-QLD barrister 2021-11-05 text match

    The respondents conduct amounts to professional misconduct

    Struck off 1 PDF View decision
  • Matthew Boyden
    BTAS barrister Middle Temple 2021-01-21 rule cited
    conditions Final 2 PDFs View decision
  • David Ellis
    SDT solicitor 12193/2021 2021-01-01 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Victor Richard Stockinger
    SDT solicitor 12177/2021 2021-01-01 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Azfar Bajwa
    BTAS barrister Gray's Inn 2019-09-19 rule cited
    strike_off Final 2 PDFs View decision
  • Ms Vanessa Marie FARMER
    LSNT lawyer 22 Harry Chan Ave, Darwin NT 0800 NT Jurisdiction 2019-08-30 found breached

    Findings of professional misconduct Reasons for decision Reasons for penalty

    Public reprimand in respect of each charge Fine of $15,000 Complete further legal education in the areas of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Practice Management, course not exceeding one day or equivalent online program Transfer trust money to the complainant within 7 days 2 PDFs View decision
  • Stuart, Andrew Graham
    OLSC solicitor Stuart & Mills [2019] NSWCATOD 108 2019-07-05 text match

    1. Misappropriated trust funds 2. Breached section 255 LPA 2004 - Holding, disbursing and accounting for trust money 3. Breached section 263 LPA 2004 - Reporting certain irregularities and suspected irregularities 4. Br…

    Costs Removal of lawyer's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision
  • James Dorney
    LSI solicitor Dorney Solicitors, Phoenix House, Monahan Road, Cork 2019-07-01 found breached text match

    In the matter of James Dorney, solicitor, practising as Dorney Solicitors, Phoenix House, Monahan Road, Cork, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Ireland to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, an…

    suspension View decision
  • Brian Milner-Lunt
    SDT solicitor 11931/2019 2019-01-01 text match

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Erich Hein CONRADIE
    LSC-QLD solicitor Conradie and Associates 2018-06-12 text match

    Guilty professional misconduct on charges 1, 3 and 4.

    other 1 PDF View decision
  • Peter David Ashcroft
    SDT solicitor 11897/2018 2018-01-01 text match

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Berger, Victor
    OLSC solicitor Milne Berry & Berger [2017] NSWCATOD 137 2017-09-21 found breached

    1. Failure to make costs disclosure to clients 2. Breach undertakings to Legal Services Commissioner 3. Purporting to act under power of attorney after donor of power died 4. Purporting to act as exectuor when no grant …

    Costs Removal of lawyer's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 Appeal Status: Dismissed Appeal Decision 3 PDFs View decision
  • Rajesh Babajee
    BTAS barrister Middle Temple 2017-02-16 rule cited
    strike_off Final 1 PDF View decision
  • Hocking, Bruce Percy
    OLSC solicitor DC Legal Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATOD 19 2017-02-01 text match

    1. Breach of s255 LPA 2004 - Mishandling of trust money 2. Failing to account for funds received on client's behalf 3. Misappropriation 4. Mislead clients 5. Overcharging 6. Acting without instructions 7. Breaching Cour…

    Costs Removal of practitioner's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision
  • Peter Elston Germain
    SDT solicitor 11650/2017 2017-01-01 text match

    Breaches

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Rodney Richard BUDGEN
    LSC-QLD solicitor Budgen Lawyers 2016-12-22 text match

    Professional misconduct

    other 4 PDFs View decision
  • Stephen Crouch
    BTAS barrister Inner Temple 2016-09-02 rule cited
    strike_off Final 1 PDF View decision

Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.