Prothonotary v Comeskey [2018] NSWCA 18

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Prothonotary v Comeskey [2018] NSWCA 18 Hearing dates: 19 May 2017. Evidence and submissions completed on 10 October 2017. Decision date: 16 February 2018 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [38]; Simpson JA at [65] Decision: (1) Declare that Christopher Patrick Comeskey is guilty of professional misconduct. (2) Declare that Christopher Patrick Comeskey is not a person of good fame and character. (3) Declare that Christopher Patrick Comeskey is not a fit and proper person to remain on the roll of Australian Lawyers maintained by the Supreme Court under s 22 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW). (4) Direct that the name Christopher Patrick Comeskey be removed from that roll. (5) Order Christopher Patrick Comeskey to pay the applicant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – disciplinary proceedings – New Zealand lawyer registered in New South Wales under Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (Cth) – failure to disclose suspension from practice in New Zealand and pleas of guilty to driving and tax-related criminal offences – false statements in application for practising certificate – order made for removal of name from roll of Australian Lawyers Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 91, 92 Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW), ss 5, 6, 31, 32, 34, 497, 590; Ch 4 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 16, 22, 261, 262, 264(1), 297 Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (Cth), ss 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 33; Pt 3 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 17.3(2) Cases Cited: A Solicitor v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales (2004) 216 CLR 253; [2004] HCA 1 In re Davis (1948) 48 SR (NSW) 33 In re Davis (1947) 75 CLR 409; [1947] HCA 53 In re Petroulias [2005] 1 Qd R 643; [2004] QCA 261 NSW Bar Association v Cummins (2001) 52 NSWLR 279; [2001] NSWCA 284 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Livanes [2012] NSWCA 325 Prothonotary v Gregory [2017] NSWCA 101 Prothonotary v Montenegro [2015] NSWCA 409 Prothonotary v Van Es [2014] NSWCA 169 Re Tkacz; Ex parte Tkacz (2006) 206 FLR 171; [2006] WASC 315 Re Veron; Ex parte Law Society of New South Wales (1966) 84 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 136 Rich v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2004) 220 CLR 129; [2004] HCA 42 Scott v Law Society of Tasmania [2009] TASSC 12 Ziems v The Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (1957) 97 CLR 279; [1957] HCA 46 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Applicant) Christopher Patrick Comeskey (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Griffin SC (Applicant) No appearance of Respondent