The following are recent decisions of the Council of the Law Society of NSW.
Decisions in relation to practising certificates
The following decisions are recorded in the Office of Legal Services Commissioner Disciplinary Register:
| Lawyer Name: | Reid, Benjamin Paul |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 07-Jul-2006 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Reid & Vesely |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Level 2, 35 Spring Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Substance of Conduct Matter: | The Solicitor failed to obey the Legal Profession Uniform Law(NSW);
The Solicitor’s conduct was dishonourable and contrary to the duty of legal practitioners to be honest and to have the utmost good faith in all dealings in the course of legal practice; The Solicitor’s conduct is contrary to the Solicitor’s duty not to engage in conduct which is likely to, a material degree be prejudicial to, or diminish the public confidence in the administration of justice, or bring the profession into disrepute; and The Solicitor’s dishonest conduct is antithetical to the position of trust and confidence that legal practitioners are placed in. |
| Finding: | The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales reasonably believes that the Lawyer is unable to fulfil the inherent requirements of an Australian legal practitioner |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Cancellation of practising certificate for the year ending 30 June 2025 pursuant to section 82(1)(d) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law(NSW) |
| Lawyer Name: | Saleh, Ali |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 08-Dec-2014 (NSW) |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Substance of Conduct Matter: | The solicitor engaged in legal practice without an Australian practising certificate and failure to disclose in application for renewal of practising certificate |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate pursuant to section 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Bannister, Charles John |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 03-Dec-2010 (NSW) |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Bannister Law Suite 2 Level 9 60 Park Street Sydney NSW 2000 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate pursuant to s 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointment for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Titmarsh, Shaun Michael |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 05-Jul-1985 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Baker Ryrie Rickards Titmarsh |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Unit 12 37-39 Smith Street Paramatta NSW 2150 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate pursuant to s 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the practising period ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | O’Brien, Bernard Charles |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 25-Jun-1976 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Bernard Charles O’Brien trading as Affordable Law Firm |
| Business Address or Former Address: | 1133 Limpinwood Road Tyalgum NSW 2484 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 24-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Bryl, Artem |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 25-Mar-2022 |
| Law Practice: | Odtojan Bryl Lawyers |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Suite 5, Level 1, 144 Marsden Street Parramatta BC NSW 2150 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Finding: | Not a fit and proper person to hold a practising certificate |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Lum Mow, Geoffrey |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 16-Jul-1976 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Lum Mow & Associates |
| Business Address or Former Address: | 142 Concord Road North Strathfield NSW 2147 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 24-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Moore, Sim |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 13-Dec-2013 |
| Law Practice: | Sim & Co Legal Services |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Suite 2, 217 Mona Vale Road, St Ives NSW 2075 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate pursuant to s 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Odtojan, Marie Jossane |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 12-Feb-2010 |
| Law Practice: | Odtojan Bryl Lawyers |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Suite 5, Level 1, 144 Marsden Street Parramatta BC NSW 2150 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Finding: | Not a fit and proper person to hold a practising certificate |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointment for a period of two (2) years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Rowntree, Bruce Elliott |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 05-Oct-2001 (NSW) |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Level 2 118 Christie Street St Leonards NSW 2065 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Substance of Conduct Matter: | The findings in Commission of Taxation v Rowntree [2020] FCA 1322, and the orders made in Commission of Taxation v Rowntree (No 3)[2021] FCA 306;The failure to disclose those proceedings in practising certificate applications dated 16 August 2021 and 17 May 2022;The failure to advise the Law Society of his bankruptcy in September 2021; |
| Finding: | The Australian lawyer is not a fit and proper person to hold a practising certificate |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 15-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal of grant of practising certificate |
| Disciplinary Action Date: | 15-May-2025 |
Decisions to externally intervene in a Law Practice:
The Council of the Law Society of NSW appointed managers to the following practices:
| Lawyer Name: | Titmarsh, Shaun Michael |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 05-Jul-1985 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Baker Ryrie Rickards Titmarsh |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Unit 12 37-39 Smith Street Paramatta NSW 2150 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate pursuant to s 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the practising period ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Attia, Muhammad Elias |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 04-Jul-2014 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Castle Law Group Pty Ltd |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Suite 20 35 Old Northern Road Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 12-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | O’Brien, Bernard Charles |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 25-Jun-1976 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Bernard Charles O’Brien trading as Affordable Law Firm |
| Business Address or Former Address: | 1133 Limpinwood Road Tyalgum NSW 2484 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 24-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Lum Mow, Geoffrey |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 16-Jul-1976 (NSW) |
| Law Practice: | Lum Mow & Associates |
| Business Address or Former Address: | 142 Concord Road North Strathfield NSW 2147 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the practice year ending 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointed for a period of two years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 24-Jun-2025 |
| Lawyer Name: | Odtojan, Marie Jossane |
| Lawyer Type: | Solicitor |
| Date/s of Admission/s: | 12-Feb-2010 |
| Law Practice: | Odtojan Bryl Lawyers |
| Business Address or Former Address: | Suite 5, Level 1, 144 Marsden Street Parramatta BC NSW 2150 |
| Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: | New South Wales |
| Finding: | Not a fit and proper person to hold a practising certificate |
| By: | Council of the Law Society of New South Wales |
| Date: | 29-May-2025 |
| Disciplinary Action: | Refusal to renew practising certificate for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 |
| Specified Duration: | Manager appointment for a period of two (2) years |
| Manager Appointed: | Yes |
| Manager Appointed Date: | 29-May-2025 |
