The duty in context
Report serious misconduct of others profession
The lawyer must report to the regulator serious or dishonest misconduct by another regulated person where they have reasonable grounds to believe it occurred, subject to confidentiality.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 7.7; CCS 7.8 strong 195 cases
7.7 You report promptly to the SRA or another approved regulator, as appropriate, any facts or matters that you reasonably believe are capable of amounting to a serious breach of their regulatory arrangements by any person regulated by them (including you). 7.8 Notwithstanding paragraph 7.7, you inform the SRA promptly of any facts or matters that you reasonably believe should be brought to its attention ...
SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs · 2019 · archived copy · official source ↗
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC66; gC98; gC98A strong 27 cases
rC66 requires a report to the BSB where there are reasonable grounds to believe specified regulated persons committed serious misconduct, subject to confidentiality and rC67-rC68. gC98 explains the reasonable-grounds threshold. For alleged serious bullying, harassment or sexual harassment, gC98A permits reporting either to the BSB or the Bar Council's Commissioner for Conduct and records the stated subject/confidant enforcement exceptions.
BSB Handbook Part 2: Code of Conduct · 5.0 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.13.1(g) partial
subject to the completion of any internal process or reporting, within a recognised law entity, in respect of such matters, may advise the Council where the attorney-at-law has good reason to doubt the professional integrity, or fitness to practise, of an attorney-at-law without prejudice to any restrictions on disclosure provided by statute
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code of Professional Conduct · 2026 · archived copy
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules no clear equivalent
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules no clear equivalent
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch7 — Serious misconduct by another solicitor strong 26 cases
If a solicitor is of the opinion that another solicitor is engaged in serious misconduct, this should be brought to the attention of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. If this involves disclosure of a client's affairs, the client's consent should be obtained in advance.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon I(d) strong 31 cases
An Attorney shall expose without fear or favour before the proper tribunals, unprofessional or dishonest conduct by any other Attorney and shall not lightly refuse a retainer against another Attorney who is alleged to have wronged his client.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.12.1 h) partial
All members must: ... h) subject to the completion of any internal process or reporting, within his/her firm... advise the Law Society where they have good reason to doubt the professional integrity, or fitness to practise, of a member or legally qualified employee of their firm, without prejudice to any restrictions on disclosure provided by statute.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 7.1-3 strong
Unless to do so would be unlawful or would involve a breach of solicitor-client privilege, a lawyer shall report to the Law Society, (a) the misappropriation or misapplication of trust monies; (b) the abandonment of a law or legal services practice; (c) participation in serious criminal activity related to a licensee's practice; (d) conduct that raises a substantial question as to another licensee's honesty, trustworthiness, or competency as a licensee; (e) conduct that raises a substantial question about the licensee's capacity to provide professional services; and (f) any situation where a licensee's clients are likely to be severely prejudiced.
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 7.1-3(e) strong 12 cases
Unless to do so would involve a breach of solicitor-client confidentiality or privilege, a lawyer must report to the Society: ... (e) conduct that raises a substantial question as to another lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or competency as a lawyer;
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 2.8 strong
Subject to the obligation on a lawyer to protect privileged communications, a lawyer who has reasonable grounds to suspect that another lawyer may have engaged in misconduct must make a confidential report to the Law Society at the earliest opportunity.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 no clear equivalent
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 11.03 strong
A solicitor is under a duty to report to the Council, where necessary after having obtained his client's consent, any professional misconduct or dishonesty on the part of another solicitor or a member of his staff, or of any other person purporting to represent or to be in the employment of another solicitor or firm.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent
Cases dealing with this duty
352 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Roger Brian Allanson
Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Alan Joseph Fitzpatrick
Breaches, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Nicholas Peter Whiffen
Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Martin Keith Waters & Rodney William Noon
Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Ian H. Robins
Appeal Allowed; GLC Sanction set aside; New sanction imposed | Court of Appeal decision delivered October 18, 2019. View PDF [2019] JMCA Civ 30 BEFORE: THE HON MR JUSTICE F WILLIAMS JA THE HON MISS JUSTICE P WILLIAMS JA…
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HELEN MARIE TOLSON
Referral to Supreme Court (full bench) recommending name be removed from the roll of practitioners
Referral to Supreme Court (full bench) recommending name be removed from the roll of practitioners 1 PDF View decision -
Richard D. Bonner
Fined, Reimbursement ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 27, 2019. | Formal Order View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 151/2018 IN THE MATTER OF…
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Paulette Amelia Warren Smith
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 27, 2019. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 10, 2018. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF T…
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Stuart, Andrew Graham
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…
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James Dorney
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 -
Thadsanamorthy, Viji
Professional Misconduct 1. Breach of section 137 LPUL - Certain trust money to be deposited in general trust account 2. Breach of section 146 LPUL - Intermixing money 3. Misappropriation Unsatisfactory Professional Cond…
Costs Fine Practitioner to undertake and complete further legal education Reprimand $5,000.00 1 PDF View decision -
Gurusamy, Baskaran
1. Breached section 254 LPA - Certain trust money to be deposited in general trust account 2. Breached section 255 LPA - Trust money received in the form of cash 3. Breached section 260 LPA - Reporting certain irregular…
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Moya O'Donnell
In the matter of Moya O’Donnell, solicitor, practising as Moya O’Donnell & Co, Solicitors, Elm Wood Terrace, Main Street, Killybegs, Co Donegal, and Glen Road, Glenties, Co Donegal, and in the matter of the Solicitors A…
strike_off View decision -
Alexander Owusu
Breaches
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Victoria Kinsella & One Other & One Other
Breaches, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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David Marriott
Criminal Convictions
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Christopher James Hibbert
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered December 05, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 194/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (HILARY…
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Carlton Melbourne
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 27, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 199/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (HILARY …
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Diane Elise Jobson
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 27, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 183/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (RICHARD…
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Liam M O’Brien
In the matter of Liam M O’Brien, a solicitor formerly practising as Liam O’Brien, 21 Quinsboro Road, Bray, Co Wicklow, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [3508/DT140/12; 3508/DT01/15; High Court record 2…
strike_off View decision -
Jennifer Messado
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 15, 2018. || Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 08, 2018 - Sanction Hearing. View PDF DECISION OF THE D…
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Tamika Kahlilah Spencer
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 15, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 189/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (ALLAN…
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Lenworth A. Burke
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 28, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 157/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (NOVAR PATR…
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Leonie Marie Campbell
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 19, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 167/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (RICHARD AYO…
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Jacqueline Marie Minto
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 05, 2018. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 145/2017 IN THE MATTER OF GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL (ALLAN WOOD …
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.