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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Darren Paul Kruse | Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Darren Paul Kruse
Business address *
20 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood SA 5051
Date(s) of admission
14 July 2008
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
The Practitioner agreed to produce an affidavit as to the provenance of a Will and codicil to enable an Application for Probate. The Practitioner failed to produce that affidavit and respond to correspondence in breach of his professional obligations under the South Australian Legal Practitioners Conduct Rules to:
• deliver legal services competently, diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible, pursuant to rule 4.1.3; and
• avoid compromise to his integrity, pursuant to rule 4.1.4.
Decision
Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Date of decision
24 April 2026
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine amount $3,000.00
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2026 | Darren Paul Kruse | Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Darren Paul Kruse
Business address *
20 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood SA 5051
Date(s) of admission
14 July 2008
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Between December 2020 and March 2021, the Practitioner failed to act on client instructions and respond to client correspondence, in breach of the following South Australian Legal Practitioners Conduct Rules:
• to act in the best interest of a client, pursuant to rule 4.1.1;
• to deliver services competently, diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible, pursuant to rule 4.1.3;
• to provide a client with clear and timely advice, pursuant to rule 7.1; and
• to follow a client’s lawful, proper and competent instructions rule 8.1.
Decision
Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Date of decision
24 April 2026
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine amount $3,000.00
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2026 | Darren Paul Kruse | Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Darren Paul Kruse
Business address *
20 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood SA 5051
Date(s) of admission
14 July 2008
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Between August 2021 and November 2021, the Practitioner failed to act on client instructions and respond to client correspondence, in breach of the following South Australian Legal Practitioners Conduct Rules:
• to act in the best interest of a client, pursuant to rule 4.1.1;
• to deliver services competently, diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible, pursuant to rule 4.1.3;
• to provide a client with clear and timely advice, pursuant to rule 7.1; and
• to follow a client’s lawful, proper and competent instructions rule 8.1.
Decision
Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Date of decision
24 April 2026
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine amount $3,000.00
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2026 | Kate Veronique Annells | Professional Misconduct | Reprimand | |
|
Full name
Kate Veronique Annells
Business address *
256 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier SA 5290
Date(s) of admission
16 December 2002
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
1. Since 1 July 2014, the Practitioner has operated her law practice as an incorporated legal practice (ILP).
2. The Practitioner did not, on behalf of the ILP, provide notice of an intention to commence legal practise as required by Schedule 1, Clause 4(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act 198 until 10 September 2025, 11 years and 2 months after commencing operation as an ILP.
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
31 March 2026
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2026 | Maria Demosthenous | Professional Misconduct | Reprimand | |
|
Full name
Maria Demosthenous
Business address *
57 Symonds Place, Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
13 October 2008
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
1. Between May 2016 to 23 September 2025, the Practitioner operated her law practice as an incorporated legal practice.
2. The Practitioner did not, on behalf of the incorporated legal practice, provide notice of an intention to commence legal practice as required by Schedule 1, Clause 4(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (the Act).
3. The Practitioner held a Category BA practising certificate and did not meet the criteria to be a ‘legal practitioner director’. Consequently, the incorporated legal practice operated by the Practitioner failed to have a ‘legal practitioner director’ within the meaning of the Act for a period exceeding 7 days. In providing legal services in default of director requirements, the incorporated legal practice (of which the Practitioner is a director) breached Schedule 1, Clause 10(1) and (3) of the Act.
4. The Practitioner shared profits arising from the practice of law with unqualified persons without authorisation in breach of section 23(3)(b) of the Act.
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
27 February 2026
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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