Council of the Law Society of NSW v Helby [2018] NSWCATOD 182

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Council of the Law Society of NSW v Helby [2018] NSWCATOD 182 Hearing dates: 1 August 2017 Date of orders: 08 November 2018 Decision date: 08 November 2018 Jurisdiction: Occupational Division Before: Craig QC ADCJ Principal Member Naida Isenberg Senior Member B Thomson General Member Decision: (1) The Respondent Christopher Vincent Helby be and is hereby reprimanded. (2) Order that the Respondent Christopher Vincent Helby pay a fine in the sum of $5000. Catchwords: LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – solicitor – disciplinary proceedings – overcharging – principles – transfer of trust funds for fees without prior authority – costs disclosure – failure to provide trust account statements – no client complaint -professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct – appropriate orders – costs – "exceptional circumstances" Legislation Cited: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) Cases Cited: Allinson v General Council of Medical Education and Registration [1894] 1 QB 750 Bolster v Law Society of New South Wales (unrep, NSWCA, 20 September 1982) Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Braham [2015] NSWCATOD 97 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Clapin [2011] NSWADT 83 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Hinde [2011] NSWADT 20 D'Alessandro v Legal Practitioners Complaint Committee (1995) 15 WAR 198 Griffin v The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 364 Helby v Council for the Law Society of New South Wales and anor [2013] NSWSC 1938 Law Society of New South Wales v Carvan (unrep. NSWCA, 14 May 1981); Law Society of New South Wales v Foreman (1994) 34 NSWLR 408 Law Society of New South Wales v Shad [2002] NSWADT 236 Law Society of New South Wales v Walsh [1997] NSWCA 185 Law Society of NSW v Webb [2012] NSWADT 114 Legal Services Commissioner v Baker [2006] QCA 145 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v McCaffery [2004] NSWCA 470 Veghelyi v The Law Society of New South Wales 1995] NSWCA 483 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales (Applicant) Christopher Vincent Helby (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Madigan (Applicant)