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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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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| 2015 | Robert Neil Brook | Unprofessional Conduct | Struck off | |
|
Full name
Robert Neil Brook
Business address *
Level 2, 60 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
20 December 1982
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
1. Conflict of interest. 2. Drew a Will without satisfying himself that the testatrix had testamentary capacity. 3. Dishonestly misleading another practitioner re: amount of party/party costs. 4. Misappropriation of Trust monies. 5. Failed to deposit Trust monies into Trust. 6. Failed to account for costs. 7. Breach of Fiduciary Duty to his client. 8. Conflict of Interest.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
09 September 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
The Order of the Full Court of the Supreme Court is effective from 9 September 2015
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court
Appeal
Appeal by LPCC against decision of LPDT dated 23/04/15
Decision or order
Link to published decision , Link to published decision
|
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| 2015 | Fadi Semaan | Unprofessional Conduct | Recommend that proceedings be commenced in the Supreme Court | |
|
Full name
Fadi Semaan
Business address *
Date(s) of admission
06 February 2012
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
The practitioner provided a falsified academic transcript to a law firm in order to obtain employment.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
08 July 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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