Karen Louisa KING

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

Karen Louisa King, a sole practitioner, faced seven charges brought by the Legal Services Commissioner. Charge 5 was dismissed by consent. The Tribunal (Fryberg J) found charges 1, 2, 6 and 7 proved and charges 3 and 4 not proved. Charge 7 concerned breach of an authorised undertaking to counsel Mr Clark; charge 1 concerned the unlawful withdrawal of $87,000 in trust monies belonging to client Ms Martin without a valid bill or notice; charge 2 concerned failure to provide an itemised bill within 28 days; charge 6 concerned failure to comply with the Commissioner's s 443(3) notice regarding the Reid complaint. Although the dishonesty charge (charge 4) was not proved, the Tribunal made express findings that Ms King fabricated evidence - inventing Mr Clark's agreement, 'making up' a purported cash payment, and finding the letter of 2 July 2008 to be 'a concoction' and 'a fabrication.' No disciplinary orders were made; the Tribunal deferred the questions of characterisation of the conduct (unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct) and disciplinary orders to further written submissions.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Honour professional undertakings