February 2026: recent decisions of the Council of the Law Society of NSW

1. Inserted signatures into four (4) costs agreements without authorisation
2. Provided those costs agreements to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (NSW Commissioner) in an attempt to mislead; and
3. Made a written statement to the NSW Commissioner in an attempt to mislead

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

entitling him to engage in legal practice as a principal of a law practice for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026

entitling him to engage in legal practice as an employee of a law practice for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026

1. Acting without instructions
2. Failing to verify client’s authority to act
3. Filing witness statement without verifying client’s instructions

application pursuant to s 45 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025

1. Acting without instructions
2. Failing to verify client’s authority to act
3. Filing witness statement without verifying client’s instructions

Acciona Concesiones Australia Pty Ltd Level 2, 55 Harrington Street, The Rocks NSW 2000

of the Solicitor’s renewed Australian practising certificate on the basis that Council has resolved to continue or complete action under Part 3.5 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) in relation to the Solicitor’s Australian practising certificate and considers it necessary in the public interest to suspend the Solicitor’s Australian 25/26 practising certificate immediately

1. Inserted signatures into four (4) costs agreements without authorisation;
2. Provided those costs agreements to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (NSW Commissioner) in an attempt to mislead; and
3. Made a written statement to the NSW Commissioner in an attempt to mislead

The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales (Council) is considering whether to start, continue or complete action under Part 3.5 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) (Uniform Law) and considers it necessary in the public interest to:

• Grant the Solicitor’s application for renewal of a practising certificate for the period ending 30 June 2026
• Immediately suspend the practitioner’s practising certificate as Council reasonably believes the Solicitor is unable to fulfil the inherent requirements of an Australian legal practitioner
• Restrict the Solicitor from applying for a practising certificate for a period of two (2) years pursuant to s 94 of the Uniform Law