Barakat v Law Society of NSW [2013] NSWADT 271

Administrative Decisions Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Barakat v Law Society of NSW [2013] NSWADT 271 Hearing dates: 15 & 16 May 2013 Decision date: 16 May 2013 Jurisdiction: Legal Services Division Before: Hon G Mullane, Judicial Member D Fairlie, Judicial Member J Tingle, Non-Judicial Member Decision: (1)The decision of the Council of the Law Society of New South Wales of 22 November 2012 to suspend the current Local Practising Certificate of the Applicant Tony Barakat is confirmed. (2)The application is refused and dismissed. Catchwords: - Solicitor - Review of Law Society decision to suspend Practising Certificate - Show cause event - Debtor's Petition & Bankruptcy - Prior disposal of assets - Failure to establish Solicitor is a fit and proper person to hold Practising Certificate Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Act 1987 Legal Profession Act 2004 Cases Cited: Meredith v Legal Profession Administration Board of NSW [2008] NSWSC 1170; Suzanne Frugtniet -v- Administrative Decisions Tribunal (Appeal Panel) & Anor Brian Frugtniet -v- Administrative Decisions Tribunal (Appeal Panel) & Anor [2005] NSW CA257 (5 August 2005); NSW Bar Association v Murphy [2002] NSW CA 138: Doherty v The Law Society of NSW [2003] NSW SC 105; New South Wales Bar Association - v - Hamman [1999] NSWCA 404; NSW Bar Association - V - Somosi [2001] NSWCA 285; NSW Bar Association - V - Cummins [2001] NSWCA 284; Ziens - V - Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW (1957) 97 CLR 279; Wardell - v - New South Wales Bar Association [2002] NSWFC 548; Meredith - v - Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW [2008] NSWSC 1170; Dawson - V - Law Society of NSW (Court of Appeal, 17 November 1989 and 21 December 1989, unreported); Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tony Barakat (Applicant) Council of the Law Society of NSW (Respondent) Representation: Counsel T Lynch (Applicant) C Webster (Respondent) T A Williams (Applicant) L Pierotti (Respondent) File Number(s): 122034