Ndou v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2023] NSWCATOD 111

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ndou v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2023] NSWCATOD 111 Hearing dates: 29 June 2023 Date of orders: 26 July 2023 Decision date: 26 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Occupational Division Before: Armstrong J, President S Westgarth, Deputy President E Hayes, General Member Decision: The decision dated 28 July 2022 is varied as follows: (a) Lovemore Ndou is reprimanded pursuant to s 299(1)(b) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW); and (b) Lovemore Ndou is to pay a fine of $2,000 pursuant to s 299(1)(f) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), such fine to be paid within 60 days of the Tribunal's decision. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONS – legal practitioners – solicitors – administrative review – failure to comply with court order – breach of obligation not to use documents obtained under compulsion for collateral purpose – Hearne v Street obligation – unsatisfactory professional conduct – protective orders – reprimand – fine Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW), ss 58, 63, 66 Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), ss 38, 60, 64(1)(c), Sch 5 cl 20 Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW), r 24 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 296, 299, 301(3), 314, 318(2), 405(2), 406 Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW), ss 32, 126 Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules 2015 (NSW), rr 2, 3, 5 Cases Cited: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Diaz [2021] NSWCATOD 9 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Judah [2022] NSWCATOD 89 Crest Homes Plc v Marks [1987] 1 AC 829 di Suvero v Bar Association (LSD) [2001] NSWADTAP 9 Evans v Citibank Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1017 Hagan v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2022] NSWCATOD 76 Hall v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2020] NSWCATOD 96 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Khoury v Kirwan (No 4) [2021] VSC 333 Law Society of NSW v Hocking [2017] NSWCATOD 19 Legal Services Board v Forster (No 3) [2012] VSC 640 Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgelands Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217; [1992] FCA 720 Treasury Wine Estates Limited v Maurice Blackburn Pty Limited (2020) 282 FCR 95; [2020] FCAFC 226 Victorian Legal Services Commissioner v Harriss (Legal Practice) (Corrected) [2020] VCAT 689 Youssef v NSW Legal Services Commissioner [2020] NSWCATOD 85 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lovemore Ndou (Applicant) Council of the Law Society of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N Evans (Respondent)