Michael A. Williams

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

Attorney Michael Williams was found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to file accountant's reports for 1999-2005 and failing to pay practice fees for 13 years, breaching the Accounts and Records Regulations, section 5(2) of the Legal Profession Act, and Canons II(j), III(t) and V(s). Despite numerous adjournments and eventual payment of outstanding fees (JMD $119,700, after his initial cheque was dishonoured), he did not remedy the accounts breaches. The panel struck him from the Roll, imposed a JMD $50,000 fine and ordered JMD $50,000 in costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Report serious misconduct of others
• No improper fee-sharing or partnership

Aggravating factors:

• Sustained and continued breach over 13 years of a basic obligation to pay practice fees
• Failure to remedy the accounts breaches even when repeatedly given the opportunity
• Repeated non-attendance and delays; cheque for practice fees was dishonoured

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the practice fee breaches
• Eventually paid the total sum of JMD $119,700 due for practice fees