Paul Christopher Doroshenko

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

In a Rule 3-7.1 consent agreement, Vancouver lawyer Paul C. Doroshenko, QC admitted to numerous trust accounting failures between 2013 and 2019, including misappropriating/improperly withdrawing $44,353.19 from trust in 82 instances, failing to maintain sufficient trust funds, late deposits, commingling his own funds in trust, improper disbursement withdrawals totaling $65,021.76, inadequate staff supervision, and making untrue Trust Report representations. The misconduct stemmed largely from data-entry errors, staff misconduct, an accountant's failures, and the lawyer's diminished oversight following a concussion and other medical/workplace issues. No express finding of dishonesty was made; he had no intent to misuse funds and derived no personal gain, reimbursed the funds, and no clients were harmed. He agreed to a two-month suspension and additional CPD trust-accounting credits.

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• No improper use of client money
• Proper basis for allegations
• Self-report to the regulator
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Mitigating factors:

• No prior professional conduct record
• Took full responsibility, apologized, and expressed remorse
• Cooperated fully and promptly with audit and investigation
• Implemented improved accounting procedures
• Agreed to complete trust accounting courses
• Reimbursed missing trust funds; no clients harmed
• No intent to misuse trust funds and no personal gain derived
• Suffered a serious concussion and slip-and-fall injuries during the material period affecting his oversight
• Relied on accountant (AB) and staff who concealed/downplayed problems
• Firm remained solvent throughout