A New Zealand lawyer, Richard Henry Hill, has been struck off the roll for a breach of trust.
Hill and his fellow partner George McKay were the founders of eponymous law firm McKay Hill in Napier, New Zealand. The firm landed in hot water when the New Zealand Law Society investigated it over account irregularities. In 2016 both Hill and McKay were hauled before the District Court. At the hearing, the prosecution accused McKay of stealing NZD556,000 from clients' trust accounts and estates. The judge convicted and sentenced him to four and a half years in jail.
Hill was also lambasted by the judge for taking funds from a client account and using the money for wages and expenses. The court convicted him of a criminal breach of trust and sentenced him to eight months home detention and 100 hours community work. Hill appealed against the conviction and sentence, and argued that he didn't realise that the account was overdrawn. However the Court of Appeal said that Hill's denial was"implausible" and upheld the conviction and sentencing.
The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has now struck Hill off the roll of barristers and solicitors and ordered that he pay costs to the New Zealand Law Society of NZD57,050.
New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck said that although it had taken some time to conclude this matter "the Law Society has again ensured that lawyers live up to the ethical standards required of the legal profession".
Tip Off ROF
Hill and his fellow partner George McKay were the founders of eponymous law firm McKay Hill in Napier, New Zealand. The firm landed in hot water when the New Zealand Law Society investigated it over account irregularities. In 2016 both Hill and McKay were hauled before the District Court. At the hearing, the prosecution accused McKay of stealing NZD556,000 from clients' trust accounts and estates. The judge convicted and sentenced him to four and a half years in jail.
Hill was also lambasted by the judge for taking funds from a client account and using the money for wages and expenses. The court convicted him of a criminal breach of trust and sentenced him to eight months home detention and 100 hours community work. Hill appealed against the conviction and sentence, and argued that he didn't realise that the account was overdrawn. However the Court of Appeal said that Hill's denial was"implausible" and upheld the conviction and sentencing.
 |
Hill's submissions |
The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has now struck Hill off the roll of barristers and solicitors and ordered that he pay costs to the New Zealand Law Society of NZD57,050.
New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck said that although it had taken some time to conclude this matter "the Law Society has again ensured that lawyers live up to the ethical standards required of the legal profession".