David Leslie Schaefer

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

David Leslie Schaefer, a BC lawyer called in 1985, admitted under Rule 4-29 to multiple counts of professional misconduct arising from dealings with long-time client RM between 2007 and 2022. He acted in conflicts of interest by helping RM buy a property (Lot 14) that he himself wanted, arranging a mortgage from his own self-directed RRSP while representing he was at arm's length, borrowing back half the mortgage funds, filing a misleading Form B, buying the property from RM below market value without ensuring the deal was fair or that RM had independent representation, and falsely representing to Canadian Western Trust that repayment funds came from RM. The Discipline Committee accepted his admissions and a five-year undertaking not to practise law in BC or seek reinstatement in Canada; he is treated as having ceased membership due to disciplinary proceedings, with any reinstatement requiring a credentials hearing. The decision recorded no express finding of dishonesty (violations framed as 'knew or ought to have known'), and no fine or costs were stated.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No own-interest conflict
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_suspension_months=60"]