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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Maddalena Romano | Unsatisfactory Conduct (pre 01/07/14) | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Maddalena Romano
Business address *
194A Prospect Road, Prospect SA 5082
Date(s) of admission
11 February 2002
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failing to ensure the veracity of representations made to the Legal Services Commission and facilitating the making of false claims to the Legal Services Commission by completing and/or signing commitment certificates seeking payment of a disbursement that had not been incurred and for work that was not done.
Decision
Unsatisfactory Conduct (pre 01/07/14)
Date of decision
28 June 2018
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Conduct finding by Full Court on Appeal (SCCIV-17-281). Remitted back to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal to deal with penalty & costs (no. 1/2015)
Regulatory authority
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision , Link to published decision
|
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| 2018 | Neil Leonard Strawbridge | Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Neil Leonard Strawbridge
Business address *
Cleveland Chambers, Level 1, 133 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
Date(s) of admission
06 February 1989, 07 March 1967
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failure to do MCPD, submitting false certificate of compliance.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
20 April 2018
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine of $3,000.00, 2 years to pay. Practitioner must provide details of proof of MCPD completed in each year to the Law Society of South Australia with his certificate of compliance, if intending to renew his Practising Certificate
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner (Delegate)
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2017 | Steven John Gareth Thomas | Practitioner's name struck off the Roll | Struck off | |
|
Full name
Steven John Gareth Thomas
Business address *
C/- Howard Zelling Chambers, GHD Building, Level 12, 211 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
16 December 1991
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
(1) Fraudulent Misappropriation (2) Swearing false affidavit and permitting to be filed in Court
Decision
Practitioner's name struck off the Roll
Date of decision
05 December 2017
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Strike off by consent
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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| 2017 | Robert Alessandro Berton | Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Robert Alessandro Berton
Business address *
1 Hoylake Crescent, West Lakes SA 5021
Date(s) of admission
05 December 1977
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failure to progress estate administration within a reasonable time.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct and Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
30 November 2017
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine of $5,000.00. All probate and estate files to be subject to quarterly examination and satisfactory report on progress by supervisor until the end of 2018. Should Probate and Administration files not be adequately managed during this time, the Practitioner is to divest himself to them and take no new instructions in that field until further order. The Practitioner is not to supervise any practitioner in their first two years of practice.
Divestment order invoked 28 September 2020 - Mr Berton has now been required to divest himself of all Probate and Estate Administration files and not accept any new instructions with regard to Probate or Estate Administration matters until further order. Compliance by 6 November 2020 required.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2017 | Paul Ignatius Boylan | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Paul Ignatius Boylan
Business address *
138 Florence Street, Port Pirie SA 5540
Date(s) of admission
07 February 1978
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failure to respond to a Notice issued under Schedule 4 Clause 4 and dated 19 July 2016 requiring the production of documents within the time frame specified in the Notice.
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
25 October 2017
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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