Grant Reuben FORWARD

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

The respondent, a barrister admitted in 1993, defrauded his client Jack Barker of $89,300 in settlement funds and was convicted of fraud after a jury trial, being sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment. The Tribunal found professional misconduct on Charge 1 (conviction of serious offence involving blatant dishonest conduct) and Charge 2 (failure to respond to a s 543(1) notice). It recommended his removal from the roll and ordered him to pay the applicant's costs on the standard basis, rejecting his submissions that costs amounted to punishment as not constituting exceptional circumstances under s 462(1). A compensation application by the client was adjourned.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Gross breach of trust in a direct brief for a vulnerable young client injured in a childhood accident
• Defrauded client of $89,300 in settlement funds
• No remorse shown and failure to accept conduct
• Brought the profession into disrepute
• Comprehensive failure to comply with the Commissioner's notice