Part one of the best and weirdest legal stories of the year for Asia Pacific.
Naughty lawyers
A number of lawyers have been hauled before the courts for fraud this year. A former S&G solicitor was struck off after stealing over $1.8 million which included nicking funds from the estates of plane crash victims. Classy. An Australian lawyer was sentenced to five years in jail for pocketing clients' money, and other lawyers at his firm are still under investigation.
One lawyer was rumbled for being dishonest, not for monetary gain, but for the, erm, prestige of winning the office Christmas quiz. He has now resigned from the firm.
Other lawyers have landed in hot water for activities outside of the office. One ex-Ashurst associate was found guilty of spanking a woman and calling her an "Australian slut" at a rowing club social. Another solicitor was investigated for seducing women with a fake dating profile using a Bollywood photo.
Some lawyers were caught dabbling in class-A drugs. An ex-Addleshaw Goddard Managing Associate was suspended for three months after being caught with enough meth to fell a small rhino. A criminal lawyer faced drug trafficking charges. And police arrested a lawyer who was in possession of drugs at a petrol station, although the Daily Mail had problems identifying him.
Naughty lawyers
A number of lawyers have been hauled before the courts for fraud this year. A former S&G solicitor was struck off after stealing over $1.8 million which included nicking funds from the estates of plane crash victims. Classy. An Australian lawyer was sentenced to five years in jail for pocketing clients' money, and other lawyers at his firm are still under investigation.
One lawyer was rumbled for being dishonest, not for monetary gain, but for the, erm, prestige of winning the office Christmas quiz. He has now resigned from the firm.
Other lawyers have landed in hot water for activities outside of the office. One ex-Ashurst associate was found guilty of spanking a woman and calling her an "Australian slut" at a rowing club social. Another solicitor was investigated for seducing women with a fake dating profile using a Bollywood photo.
Some lawyers were caught dabbling in class-A drugs. An ex-Addleshaw Goddard Managing Associate was suspended for three months after being caught with enough meth to fell a small rhino. A criminal lawyer faced drug trafficking charges. And police arrested a lawyer who was in possession of drugs at a petrol station, although the Daily Mail had problems identifying him.
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It's been an annus horribilis for both KWM and Slater and Gordon.
Slater and Gordon's torrid run continued this year as it was revealed that the firm's debts outstripped its assets. The beleaguered firm also took a financial hammering when it settled a class action for $36.5 million. Its UK and Australian operations separated, and the UK arm has closed offices across the land. However, it hasn't been bad for everyone at S&G as the former head of Slater and Gordon will be paid $1.5 million, as he failed his way to a golden goodbye
KWM collapsed at the beginning of the year and in the fall out partners turned on each other in sweary emails. Some good eggs launched a hardship fund for shafted staff. However the fund was closed quietly, with the amount raised shrouded in secrecy. Many ex-KWM staff brought an action to seek compensation.
Fake lawyers
A number of charlatans without legal qualifications were reprimanded for pretending to be lawyers. One imposter carried out legal work at police interviews and in court, whilst another duped clients for two years. But the Best Fake Lawyer currently goes to a Japanese lawyer who kept up the act undetected for 40 years.