Recent decisions of the Council of the Law Society of NSW

Decisions in relation to practising certificates

Lawyer Name: Fox, Ian Russell Bradfield
Lawyer Type: Solicitor
Date/s of Admission/s: 06-Jul-1984
Law Practice: Ian R Fox
Business Address or Former Address: PO BOX Q359 QVB POST OFFICE NSW AUSTRALIA 1230
Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: New South Wales
Substance of Conduct Matter: Automatic show cause event
Finding: Not a fit and proper person to hold an Australian practising certificate; Cancellation of Solicitor’s Practising Certificate
By: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales
Date: 12-Oct-2023
Disciplinary Action: Cancellation of Practising Certificate; Cancellation of practising certificate pursuant to ss 76(b) & 89(2)(b) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
Disciplinary Action Date: 12-Oct-2023

Lawyer Name: Fox, Ian Russell Bradfield
Lawyer Type: Solicitor
Date/s of Admission/s: 06-Jul-1984
Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: New South Wales
By: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales
Date: 12-Oct-2023
Disciplinary Action: Cancellation of Practising Certificate for the year ending 30 June 2024

Lawyer Name: Abboud, Leslie Elias
Lawyer Type: Solicitor
Date/s of Admission/s: 09-Jul-1982
Law Practice: Gerard Malouf & Partners Pty Limited
Business Address or Former Address: Level 2, 29 Grose Street Parramatta NSW 2150
Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: New South Wales
Substance of Conduct Matter: On 28 November 2018, the Respondent Solicitor acted unethically, in the course of legal practice by engaging in abusive, threatening or discourteous conduct towards professional colleagues, outside of Court Room 4 in the ACT Supreme Court. On 28 November 2018, the Respondent Solicitor acted unethically in the course of legal practice by making offensive, discourteous and derogatory statements in court before a Senior Deputy Registrar of the ACT Supreme Court.
Finding: Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
By: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales
Date: 05-Oct-2023
Disciplinary Action: Fine $10,000
Reprimand: Recommendation to the Council of the Law Society that discretionary conditions be imposed on the Solicitor’s Practising Certificate for the years ending 30 June
2024, 30 June 2025 and 30 June 2026

Lawyer Name: Payne, Peter Desmond
Lawyer Type: Solicitor
Date/s of Admission/s: 15-Feb-2013
Law Practice: Peter Payne Law Pty Ltd
Business Address or Former Address: 14-16 Barton Street Cobar NSW 2835
Substance of Conduct Matter: Conviction for a serious offence, namely “do act etc intending to pervert the course of justice” pursuant to s319 of the Crimes Act 1900
By: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales
Date: 13-Nov-2023
Disciplinary Action: Cancellation of Practising Certificate for the year ending 30 June 2024

Lawyer Name: Bhatia, Ehman
Lawyer Type: Solicitor
Date/s of Admission/s: 25-Feb-2021
Law Practice: Byron & Associates Pty Ltd
Business Address or Former Address: Suite 2B, 130 MAIN STREET BLACKTOWN NSW AUSTRALIA 2148
Place of Issue of Practising Certificate: New South Wales
Substance of Conduct Matter: The solicitor failed to provide the Complainant’s legal representative with the original signed contract and trust account receipt in a timely manner and failed to respond to correspondence in a timely manner.
Finding: Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
By: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales
Date: 16-Nov-2023
Disciplinary Action: Reprimand
Disciplinary Action Date: 16-Nov-2023