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 Tribunal (previously 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 (previously the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary 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 reviewed or appealed, then the fact of the review or 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. That can only occur 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 section 89C of the Act. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sydney Gordon Maidment | Unprofessional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Sydney Gordon Maidment
Business address *
5 Clarke Street, Norwood SA 5067
Date(s) of admission
05 March 1963
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Grossly and inappropriately overcharged his client, in circumstances where he knew or ought to have known that his costs agreement was invalid, by charging more than Supreme Court Scale and by charging non-legal office expenses as legal costs.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
30 November 2016
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fined $5,000.00. Ordered to apologise to his client. Ordered to refrain from including his service company or any non-legal entity in which he has a direct or indirect financial interest as a party in any costs and/or fees agreement between him and his clients. He also must not charge his clients costs for non-legal work by him or any related entity other than as a disbursement which has been authorised in writing by the client.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2016 | Gregory Donovan Gwynfor Morcom | Practitioner not a fit and proper person to remain a legal practioner | Struck off | |
|
Full name
Gregory Donovan Gwynfor Morcom
Business address *
11 First Street, Wingfield SA 5013
Date(s) of admission
10 October 2005
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Convictions for possession of child pornography and possession of a prescribed firearm without a licence, convictions for breach of bail, convictions for offences contrary to the Customs Act, 1901 (Cth), convictions for possession of prescribed equipment and prescription drugs without a prescription, breach of an undertaking given to the Supreme Court not to practise law, and numerous breaches of a suspended sentence bond and supervised bail agreement including by the use of methylamphetamine.
Decision
Practitioner not a fit and proper person to remain a legal practioner
Date of decision
04 November 2016
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Appeal period expires 02/12/16
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court of South Australia
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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| 2016 | Lachlan Nathan McAuliffe | Unprofessional Conduct (pre-1 July 2014) & Professional Misconduct (post-1 July 2014) | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Lachlan Nathan McAuliffe
Business address *
19 Norman Street, Port Pirie SA 5540
Date(s) of admission
04 September 1995
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Unreasonable delay in obtaining Probate (equivalent) and finalising deceased estate.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct (pre-1 July 2014) & Professional Misconduct (post-1 July 2014)
Date of decision
19 May 2016
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
One condition on the practitioner’s practising certificate was satisfied by the practitioner, and the remaining conditions were removed by the Commissioner in January 2022.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2015 | George Joseph Stephen Mancini | Unsatisfactory Conduct and Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct | Reprimand | |
|
Full name
George Joseph Stephen Mancini
Business address *
43 Wright Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
21 December 1978
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failing to submit client's application for legal aid, failing to appear at Court to represent client.
Decision
Unsatisfactory Conduct and Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Date of decision
29 October 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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| 2015 | Stephen Michael Clark | Unprofessional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Stephen Michael Clark
Business address *
Adelaide Road Chambers, 1 Adelaide Road, Gawler SA 5118
Date(s) of admission
19 December 1983
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Threatening and inappropriate communications with client, overcharging, misappropriation of trust money, asserting a false claim to a lien over settlement funds, preferring his own interests of those of his clients.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
16 October 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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