Gersten v The Law Society [2002] NSWCA 344

Reported Decision : (2002) 56 NSWLR 16

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Gersten v The Law Society [2002] NSWCA 344 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41007/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 22 July 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 November 2002

Joseph Morris Gersten PARTIES : v The Law Society of New South Wales JUDGMENT OF : Handley JA at 1; Stein JA at 62; Davies AJA at 63

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT CLD 10125/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT James J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Appellant - Paul Brereton SC Respondent - John Griffiths SC/Nicholas Beaumont SOLICITORS : Appellant - Oliveri Attorneys Respondent - Raymond John Collins CATCHWORDS : LEGAL PRACTITIONER - suspension from practice in foreign jurisdiction - SCR Pt 65A r 3 - automatic suspension in New South Wales unless court otherwise orders - fitness to practise primary consideration - foreign judgment not entitled to recognition - comity not relevant - PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW - foreign order committing to prison - not entitled to recognition - foreign order striking off or suspending legal practitioner - not entitled to recognition LEGISLATION CITED : SCR Pt 65A r 3 Clyne v The New South Wales Bar Association (1960) 104 CLR 186 The Queen v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal Ex parte 2HD Pty Limited (1979) 144 CLR 45 Huntington v Attrill [1893] AC 150 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 re Welsh ex parte the Law Institute of Victoria (1896) 22 VLR 473 re A Solicitor ex parte Incorporated Law Society [1898] 1 QB 331 CASES CITED: re A Solicitor [1993] QB 69 New South Wales Bar Assocation v Evatt (1968) 117 CLR 177 Harvey v The Law Society of New South Wales (1975) 49 ALJR 362 Weaver v Law Society of New South Wales (1979) 142 CLR 201 Wentworth v NSW Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 239 Smith v NSW Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 256 McCarthy v Law Society of New South Wales (1997) 43 NSWLR 42 DECISION : Leave to appeal granted. Appeal allowed. Orders made