Michael A. Williams

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

Attorney Michael Williams failed to deliver accountant's reports to the General Legal Council for the years 1999-2005 and failed to pay practice certificate fees for 13 years (1986-1996, 2005, 2006) while continuing to practise. After multiple adjournments, he admitted the fee breaches and paid $104,250 by cheque, which was dishonoured; he later paid the full $119,700 owed. The panel found professional misconduct proven beyond reasonable doubt. For the practice-fee breaches it imposed a $50,000 fine, and for the unremedied accounts-regulations breaches it struck him from the Roll, plus $50,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Report serious misconduct of others
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No improper fee-sharing or partnership

Aggravating factors:

• Sustained and continued breach over 13 years of basic obligation to pay practice fees, described as inexcusable and very grave
• Breaches of the Accounts and Records Regulations remained unremedied at the date of decision
• Failure to comply even when given repeated opportunities and adjournments
• Cheque tendered for practice fees was dishonoured by the bank

Mitigating factors:

• Attorney admitted the practice-fee breaches
• Attorney ultimately paid the full sum of $119,700 then due