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discipline 30 September 2026

The duty in context

Not misrepresent regulated status profession

The lawyer must not hold out an unregulated business or person as regulated, and must take reasonable steps to prevent clients wrongly believing a third party is regulated.

272 cases 59% strike-off avg suspension 15.1 mo avg fine 51,577 119 with dishonesty finding

How the codes express this duty

E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 8.10; CCS 5.4 strong 184 cases
8.10 You ensure that clients understand whether and how the services you provide are regulated. This includes: ... (c) ensuring that you do not represent any business or employer which is not authorised by the SRA, including any separate business, as being regulated by the SRA.
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC83; rC84; rC19.4 strong 5 cases
rC83 If you refer a client to a third party which is not a BSB authorised person or an authorised (non-BSB) person, you must take reasonable steps to ensure that the client is not wrongly led to believe that the third party is subject to regulation by the Bar Standards Board or by another approved regulator. rC84 You must not have a material commercial interest in any organisation which gives the impression of being, or may be reasonably perceived as being, subject to the regulation of the Bar Standards Board ... where it is not so regulated.
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 no clear equivalent
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rule 39.1 partial 21 cases
the solicitor, or law practice... must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the client is clearly informed about the nature and the terms of the services being provided to the client by the solicitor or law practice, including (if applicable) that the services provided by the other entity are not provided by solicitor or the law practice as legal services.
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules no clear equivalent
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch9 — The solicitor as agent for an institution partial 18 cases
If a solicitor holds an agency for an institution, the office of the solicitor should be clearly seen to be the office of a solicitor and not a branch of the organisation from whom the solicitor holds the agency.
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 2.10 partial 18 cases
Barristers shall not abuse the title Barrister-at-Law or where applicable Senior Counsel, but this rule shall not prohibit the disclosure of their professional qualification by Barristers in a manner consistent with the Code and any instrument made under the Code.
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon II(a) partial 6 cases
An Attorney shall not hold out any person (not qualified to practise as a lawyer) as a partner, associate consultant or Attorney.
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code no clear equivalent
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 4.2-1.1; r 6.1-1 commentary [5.1] strong
4.2-1.1 A lawyer marketing legal services shall specifically identify in all marketing materials that they are licensed as a lawyer. [6.1-1 cmt 5.1: A lawyer should ensure that the non-lawyer is identified as such when communicating orally or in writing with clients, licensees, public officials, or with the public generally.]
BC Lawyers BC Code r 4.2-8 strong 10 cases
A lawyer must not list a person not entitled to practise law in British Columbia on any letterhead or in any other marketing activity without making it clear in the marketing activity that the person is not entitled to practise law in British Columbia.
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 2.11 / r 14.13 partial
If a lawyer learns that a person is committing an offence by— ... (c) providing legal services in breach of any of sections 21, 22, or 23 of the Act (which relate to persons, not being lawyers, engaging in misleading conduct regarding their right or qualifications to practise law)— the lawyer must immediately report the matter to the Law Society ...
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 33 (Descriptions) partial 2 cases
33 Descriptions
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 13.04 partial
No solicitor shall wilfully and knowingly: (a) act as agent in any action or in any matter in bankruptcy for any unqualified person; or (b) permit his name to be made use of in any such action or matter upon the account or for the profit of any unqualified person; or ... (d) do any other act enabling any unqualified person to appear, act or practise in any respect as a solicitor.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

265 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern

  • Rajesh Soni
    LSBC lawyer 2026-04-02 found breached

    Rule 4-29 Admission and Undertaking to the Discipline Committee

    Rule 4-29 Admission and Undertaking to the Discipline Committee 1 PDF View decision
  • Michelle Niaz
    SDT solicitor 12767/2025 2026-02-17 found breached rule cited

    Authorisation of Individuals Regulations 2019, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Gordon Scot Watson
    SSDT solicitor Gordon Scot Watson, 2/1, 1 Briarwood Gardens, Glasgow 2026-02-09 found breached
    conditions No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Carter Devile
    SDT solicitor 12597/2024 2026-01-16 found breached

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011

    Costs only, No Order 1 PDF View decision
  • Shahid Ali
    SDT solicitor 12685/2024 2026-01-06 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Nachiappan, Sorna
    OLSC solicitor 2025-12-18 found breached

    It appears the Lawyer has: Inserted signatures into four (4) costs agreements without authorisation Provided those costs agreements to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (NSW Commissioner) in an attempt t…

    Cancellation of Practising Certificate for the practising year ending 30 June 2026 on the ground that the Lawyer is unable to fulfil the inherent requirements of an Australian legal practitioner: s 82(1)(d) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) (Uniform Law); and Restricted the Lawyer from applying for the grant of a practising certificate for a period of two (2) years: s 94 of the Uniform Law $0.00 About ​ About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact ​ Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information ​ Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot ​​Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW​ , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision
  • Douglas Burnett
    SSDT solicitor Douglas Burnett, Burnett Legal Services Limited, 6 King’s Gate, Aberdeen 2025-12-16 found breached
    fine No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Siobhan Sullivan
    SSDT solicitor Siobhan Sullivan, c/o Bridge Legal Limited, Carlton Buildings, 63 Carlton Place, Glasgow 2025-12-04 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Kin Ip Lo
    LSBC lawyer 2025-11-04 found breached

    Rule 3-7.1 Consent Agreement

    Rule 3-7.1 Consent Agreement 1 PDF View decision
  • Alastair McBean Blackwood
    SSDT solicitor Alastair McBean Blackwood, c/o HMP Castle Huntly, Longforgan, Nr. Dunde 2025-10-27 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 4 PDFs View decision
  • Charles Ogbonna Azotam
    SDT solicitor 12777/2025 2025-10-24 found breached

    Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, SRA Principles 2019

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Gow, Samantha Catherine
    OLSC solicitor 1189 Properties Pty Ltd T/A Gow Group - Global Legal Services [2025] NSWCA 232 2025-10-23 found breached

    The Prothonotary relied on 27 particulars spanning the period 2014-2024. These included: 1. 2014 convictions in Queensland for breach of bail, being drunk in a public place, and committing public nuisance; 2. failure be…

    Costs Removal of lawyer’s name from the Roll of Australian lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision
  • Grubisa, Dominique
    OLSC solicitor DGI Lawyers Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCATOD 127 2025-10-01 found breached

    Proceedings no. 2022/00387737 (First Application) 1. Mrs Grubisa was the principal of a law practice which had lay associates who were disqualified persons under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and who were not a…

    Costs Order recommending removal of lawyer's name from the Roll of Australian Lawyers $0.00 Proceedings Instituted 1 PDF View decision
  • Kerrison, Robert Francis
    OLSC solicitor Kerrisons Legal Services 2025-08-15 found breached

    Lawyer failed to comply with a notice issued pursuant to s 371 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Uniform Law), the Lawyer is the subject of unresolved complaints, the Lawyer’s practising certificate was previously su…

    Refusal to issue Practising Certificate for the practising period ending 30 June 2026 $0.00 Specified Duration: Manager appointed for a period of 2 years Manager Appointed: Yes Manager Appointed View decision
  • Kenneth Woodburn
    SSDT solicitor Kenneth D Woodburn, 16 Forth Street, Edinburgh 2025-08-12 found breached
    conditions No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • (unnamed)
    SDT solicitor 12723/2025 2025-07-25 found breached
    Restoration to the Roll - Refused 1 PDF View decision
  • Huggins Lewis Foskett
    SDT solicitor 12702/2024 2025-07-14 found breached

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Feisal Mohammed Raza Sheikh; Maxim Solicitors Limited
    SDT solicitor 12669/2024 2025-06-19 found breached

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Failures, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Zahid Akhtar
    SDT solicitor 12518/2023 2025-05-12 found breached

    Authorisation of Individuals Regulations 2019, Breaches, SRA Principles 2019

    Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Lynsay Kelly
    SSDT solicitor Lynsay Kelly, 29 St Vincent Crescent, Ayr 2025-04-08 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 2 PDFs View decision
  • Paul Christopher Flaherty; William John Gregory Osmond
    SDT solicitor 12647/2024 2025-04-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Misappropriation of Client Account, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Principles 2011

    Fine, Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    SDT solicitor 12639/2024 2025-03-21 found breached

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Judith Anne Sheehan
    LSC-QLD solicitor Bartley Legal Pty Ltd 2025-03-14 found breached

    The Respondent's conduct with respect to Charges 1,3,4 and 5 constitutes professional misconduct

    Suspended 1 PDF View decision
  • Gregory George Dureault
    LSBC lawyer 2025-02-28 found breached

    Rule 3-7.1 Consent Agreement

    Rule 3-7.1 Consent Agreement 1 PDF View decision
  • Mark Ian Williams
    SDT solicitor 12626/2024 2025-02-18 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Lack of Integrity, Practice Framework Rules, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision

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.