Law Society of New South Wales -v- Riordan [1999] NSWADT 10

CITATION: Law Society of New South Wales -v- Riordan [1999] NSWADT 10

DIVISION: Legal Services

APPLICANT: The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales

RESPONDENT: John Richard Riordan

FILE NUMBER: 9833

HEARING DATES: 02/02/99

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED: 02/02/99

DATE OF DECISION: 17 March 1999

C B Vass Presiding Judicial Member BEFORE: J J Catanzariti - Judicial Member G Sartore - Member

PRIMARY LEGISLATION: Legal Profession Act 1987

APPLICATION: Dishonest/infamous conduct not in connection with legal practice; Professional misconduct - solicitor -

MATTER FOR DECISION: Principal matter

Applicant: D Barton instructed by R J Collins REPRESENTATION: Respondent: In person

ORDERS: 1. That the name of the legal practitioner be removed from the Roll of Legal Practitioners. 2. That the solicitor pay the costs of the Law Society as agreed or as determined by the Tribunal pursuant to Section 171E of the Legal Profession Act.

1 This Tribunal has before it an information dated 22 September 1998 and filed on that date in the Legal Services Tribunal claiming that John Richard Riordan (the solicitor) was guilty of professional misconduct within the meaning of Section 127(1)(b) of the Legal Profession Act 1987 on the grounds that "the solicitor pleaded guilty to five charges alleging breach of Section 229(4) of the Companies (NSW) Code and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment".

2 The Law Society sought orders that the solicitor's name be removed from the role of legal practitioners in New South Wales and that the solicitor be ordered to pay the costs of the Law Society incidental to these proceedings.