Disciplinary Action Register & Public Reprimands
In a Register of Disciplinary Action, the Society is required to publish disciplinary action taken against a practitioner (s541 Legal Profession Act). That Register is provided below. The Society has determined not to publish disciplinary proceedings where no findings of professional misconduct are made against a practitioner. This is due to the restrictive definition of disciplinary action in s540 of the Act.
| Decision date | Practitioner name | Business address & home jurisdiction (if known) | Admission date & jurisdiction | Nature of conduct | Penalty imposed |
| 12/09/2008 | Mr Ian ROWBOTTOM |
Level 5, Old Admiralty Towers, 68 Esplanade, Darwin City NT 0800 NT Jurisdiction |
06/02/1996 (NT) |
Findings of professional misconduct |
Practising Certificate cancelled and practitioner not to be granted a Practising Certificate for 6 months Practitioner to complete and pass ethics course |
| 27/04/2009 | Ms Asha MCLAREN | GPO Box 4157, Darwin NT 0801 NT Jurisdiction |
09/03/1983 (NT) |
Findings of professional misconduct |
Practitioner to complete courses Fine of 150 penalty units Practitioner to apologise |
| 07/05/2011 | Mr Thong Sum LEE | 25 Lindsay St, Darwin NT 0800 (former) |
Original admission: Also admitted NT |
Public reprimand Fine of $10,000.00 |
|
| 24/12/2014 | Mr Michael FREELAND | Level 1, 20 Knuckey St, Darwin NT 0800 (former) |
Original admission: Also admitted 29/10/2002 (NT) |
Findings of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct |
Practising Certificate not to be granted for 12 months Practitioner not to be issued with an unrestricted PC until 2 years supervised practice completed |
| 30/08/2019 | Ms Vanessa Marie FARMER |
22 Harry Chan Ave, Darwin NT 0800 NT Jurisdiction |
02/02/1999 (NT) |
Findings of professional misconduct |
Public reprimand in respect of each charge Fine of $15,000 Complete further legal education in the areas of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Practice Management, course not exceeding one day or equivalent online program Transfer trust money to the complainant within 7 days |
| 18/06/2020 | Mr Geoffrey Robert CLIFT |
26 Harry Chan Ave, Darwin NT 0800 (former) NT jurisdiction |
Original admission: 21/02/1983 (Tas) Also admitted 09/07/1984 (NT) and 06/05/1991 (SA) |
Findings of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct |
Public reprimand PC not to be granted for 8 months |
PUBLIC REPRIMANDS
Pursuant to s499 of the Legal Profession Act 2006, where the Society after completion of the investigation of a complaint determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that a practitioner will be found guilty by the Disciplinary Tribunal of either unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct, the Society may issue the practitioner with a public reprimand.
A public reprimand is not 'disciplinary action' within the meaning of s540 of the Legal Profession Act but the Council of the Society has resolved that details relating to the reprimand will be made public by being published on the Society's website, and that details will remain available for 12 months from the date on which the reprimand was imposed by the Society. Details can be found by clicking on the link below.
View Register of Public Reprimands