Skip to main content
discipline 3 October 2026

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.

352 cases 59% strike-off avg suspension 19.9 mo avg fine 72,965 144 with dishonesty finding

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 ...
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

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

  • Ashworth, Gary John
    OLSC solicitor Ashlaw Associates [2016] NSWCATOD 139 2016-11-11 found breached

    Misappropriation of trust funds 1. Breach of section 255 LPA 2004 - Holding, disbursing and accounting for trust money 2. Breach of section 263 LPA 2004 - Reporting certain irregularities and suspected irregularities 3.…

    Costs Removal of practitioner's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 1 PDF View decision
  • Stephen Crouch
    BTAS barrister Inner Temple 2016-09-02 found breached
    strike_off Final 1 PDF View decision
  • Daimian Masters
    GLC attorney 44 of 2014 2016-07-23 found breached

    Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 23, 2016. || Struck off again, Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 24, 2017. View PDF DECISION OF THE D…

    Guilty of Professional Misconduct 1 PDF View decision
  • Kieran Quill
    LSI solicitor J Hodnett & Son, Solicitors, Nelson House, Emmet Place, Youghal, Co Cork 2016-07-11 found breached

    In the matter of Kieran Quill, a solicitor formerly practising as principal of J Hodnett & Son, Solicitors, Nelson House, Emmet Place, Youghal, Co Cork, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [4513/DT112/14,…

    strike_off View decision
  • Lloyd Aneke
    BTAS barrister Inner 2016-05-25 found breached
    strike_off Final 1 PDF View decision
  • John Urquhart
    SSDT solicitor John Urquhart, solicitor, residing at 35 Back Dykes, East Wemyss, Kirkcaldy 2016-02-16 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Peter Sefton
    BTAS barrister Inner Temple 2016-02-10 found breached
    suspension Final 1 PDF View decision
  • Jean Attala
    BTAS barrister Gray's Inn 2016-01-21 found breached
    strike_off Final 1 PDF View decision
  • Charles Edward Robert Christian Rhodes
    SDT solicitor 11488/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Melvin Douglas Goldberg
    SDT solicitor 11464/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Philip Joseph Shiner & John Dickinson
    SDT solicitor 11510/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Michael Healey
    SDT solicitor 11578/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • David Grant
    SDT solicitor 11497/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Criminal Convictions, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Susan Irene McCarville
    SDT solicitor 11465/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Habibullah Khan
    SDT solicitor 11538/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Andrew John March
    SDT solicitor 11533/2016 2016-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Thomas G Myles
    LSI solicitor Myles & Co, Solicitors, 21 Hillside, Monaghan, Co Monaghan 2015-11-23 found breached

    In the matter of Thomas G Myles, a solicitor formerly practising as Myles & Co, Solicitors, 21 Hillside, Monaghan, Co Monaghan, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [4961/DT192/13 and High Court record 201…

    strike_off View decision
  • Greenstein, David
    OLSC solicitor Greenstein & Associates [2015] NSWCATOD 122 2015-10-29 found breached

    1. Contravened a condition on his practising certificate for the years ending 30 June 2011 and 30 June 2012 2. Failed to comply with his undertaking to the Law Society 3. Failed to respond to correspondence in respect o…

    Costs Removal of practitioner's name from the Roll of Local Lawyers $0.00 1 PDF View decision
  • David Richard Blair Lyons & Duncan Hugh Drummond
    SSDT solicitor David Richard Blair Lyons, residing at Greenways, Pacemuir Road, Kilmalcolm and Duncan Hugh Drummond, residing at Flat 1/2, 80 Kirkcaldy Road, Pollockshields, Glasgow 2015-10-14 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Arlean D. Moreta Beckford
    GLC attorney 104 of 2014 2015-09-01 found breached

    Struck Off, Restitution ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 01, 2015. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 104/2014 IN THE MATTER OF LORETT…

    Struck Off, Restitution ordered 2 PDFs View decision
  • Elizabeth M Cazabon
    LSI solicitor Cazabon Solicitors, Gray Office Park, Galway Retail Park, Headford, Co Galway 2015-07-20 found breached

    In the matter of Elizabeth M Cazabon, a solicitor of Cazabon Solicitors, Gray Office Park, Galway Retail Park, Headford, Co Galway, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [8142/DT05/14, 8142/DT22/14, 8142/DT…

    strike_off View decision
  • Raymond St John O’Neill
    LSI solicitor Raymond St J O’Neill & Co, 27/29 Washington Street, Cork 2015-07-20 found breached

    In the matter of Raymond St John O’Neill, a solicitor practising under the style and title of Raymond St J O’Neill & Co, 27/29 Washington Street, Cork, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [3138/DT143/11; …

    conditions View decision
  • Paul Madden
    LSI solicitor Paul Madden & Company, Solicitors, Fitzpatrick Square, Clones, Co Monaghan 2015-06-22 found breached

    In the matter of Paul Madden, a solicitor formerly practising as Paul Madden & Company, Solicitors, Fitzpatrick Square, Clones, Co Monaghan, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [10035/DT205/13 and High Co…

    strike_off View decision
  • Donald Alexander Gittens
    GLC attorney 8 of 2013 2015-04-22 found breached

    Reprimanded | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 22, 2015. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 8/2013 IN THE MATTER OF INDRA BAHADUR and DONALD GITTENS…

    Reprimanded 1 PDF View decision
  • Paul Sims
    BTAS barrister Gray's Inn 2015-04-15 found breached
    suspension Final 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.