Disciplinary Register
The Register of Disciplinary Action contains information about lawyers who have been disciplined
Disciplinary action may be taken by the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, the Supreme Court or in some cases, by their interstate equivalents.
Below you can search the Register by lawyer’s name and/or the disciplinary action taken, or view the entire Register.
A finding of Professional Misconduct, whether made by the Commissioner, the Tribunal or the Supreme Court, must be published on the Register.
A less serious finding of Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct may be included on the Register, at the discretion of the Commissioner.
Not all lawyers subject to disciplinary action prior to 1 July 2014 are listed on the Register. Only lawyers who have been struck-off (ie removed from practice), suspended from practice or placed under supervision for a period of time (and which was in effect as at 1 July 2014) are on the Register. Some information is not on the Register for older disciplinary actions.
Lawyers found guilty of misconduct in other jurisdictions may have their details published on an interstate disciplinary action register.
If a finding that is entered on the Register is appealed, then the fact of the appeal will also be noted on the Register. If the appeal, or indeed any review:
- results in the finding being quashed, then any reference to that disciplinary action must be removed from the Register;
- results in the finding being otherwise varied, then the Register will be amended appropriately.
The Commissioner has a discretion to remove information that was previously included on the Register. They can only do so where the information relates to relatively minor misconduct, and only if it has been at least 2 years since the later of:
- the inclusion of the information on the Register; and
- the fulfilment of the order or requirement to which the information relates.
Disclaimer: The Commissioner is required to maintain the Register of Disciplinary Action in accordance with the Act, Section 89C. While all reasonable care is taken to make sure the information on the Register is correct and up-to-date, the Commissioner is not liable for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on the Register or from any error or deficiency in the Register. The Commissioner also has certain specific protections from liability under section 89F of the Act.
| Date of decision | Full name | Decision | Disciplinary action taken | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Matthew Peter Thompson | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Matthew Peter Thompson
Business address *
Level 1, 447 Morphett Street Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
12 February 2001
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
The Practitioner is a registered Migration Agent. He sought a particular visa for an applicant. The application was refused by
the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The Practitioner failed to advise the applicant of that refusal. He then lodged an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal against that refusal despite having no instructions to do so. There was delay in notifying the applicant of the fact of the refusal and the lodgement of the appeal
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
20 May 2020
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine in the amount of $5,000.00 to be paid by instalment.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2020 | John-Paul Davies-Morgante | Unprofessional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
John-Paul Davies-Morgante
Business address *
45 Airlie Avenue, Prospect SA 5082
Date(s) of admission
11 August 2009, 12 December 2002
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Offensive and accusatory communication to another practitioner, making allegations against another practitioner without sufficient evidence.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
30 April 2020
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine in the amount of $1,500.00. The Practitioner is to refrain from applying for a Practising Certificate in any jurisdiction in Australia without the prior consent of the Commissioner
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2020 | Gregory Charles Anderson | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Gregory Charles Anderson
Business address *
165 Main North Road, Clare SA 5453
Date(s) of admission
03 April 1975
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Releasing a substantial amount of trust money without authority and against instructions
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
05 March 2020
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Practitioner has now retired from legal practice. Fine in the amount of $2,000.00
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2020 | Travis Keith Sturgeon | Practitioner committed professional misconduct | Recommend that proceedings be commenced in the Supreme Court | |
|
Full name
Travis Keith Sturgeon
Business address *
53 Sun Orchid Drive, Chilton SA 5211
Date(s) of admission
24 November 2015, 06 April 1998
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
• Dishonesty/making false statements in administration of a deceased estate;
• Forging signature of executor;
• False witnessing of a signature on a document;
• Acting in a manner that preferred his personal interests
Decision
Practitioner committed professional misconduct
Date of decision
03 March 2020
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Decision on 16/09/19 by Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal recommended removal from Roll in Queensland. It transpired that the Practitioner was not admitted in Queensland. The Decision was amended on 3 March 2020 to recommend removal from the Roll in Victoria. No action taken to remove from the Roll in Victoria.
Section 89(6) not available to LPCC in SA as no order made interstate that disqualified or suspended the Practitioner from practice.
Regulatory authority
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision , Link to published decision
|
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| 2019 | William Andrew Sim | Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
William Andrew Sim
Business address *
97 Dyson Road, Christies Beach SA 5165
Date(s) of admission
08 February 1977
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Breaches of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1981 and Legal Practitioners Regulations in the operation of the Practitioner's Trust Account including monthly reconciliation statements which had been signed off by the Practitioner containing numerous unreconciled items dating back to 2010 and numerous dormant balances.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
19 December 2019
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine in the amount of $1,500.00. Condition on Practising Certificate relates to professional development in trust accounting.
Regulatory authority
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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