News Release
October 06, 2017

Vancouver, October 6, 2017 – The Law Society sets standards of professional responsibility for BC lawyers and articled students, and upholds those standards through a complaints and discipline process. These standards and processes are important to maintain public confidence and trust in lawyers. Accordingly, the Law Society has ordered that should former lawyer Gerhardus Albertus Pyper of Surrey seek and be granted readmission to membership in the Law Society, he will be suspended for two months commencing on the date on which he is readmitted.

On May 23, 2014, Pyper was suspended, primarily because he had failed to eliminate shortages in his trust account, as he was previously ordered to do. Between May 23 and June 13, 2014, he practised law while suspended by drafting, signing or sending two letters on his law firm letterhead on behalf of a client.

Pyper’s membership in the Law Society ceased on January 29, 2015 for non-payment of fees. Because he is not currently a member of the Law Society, the hearing panel determined that the suspension will commence when he is readmitted to the Law Society. Written reasons for the decision are available here.

The Law Society of British Columbia upholds and protects the public interest in the administration of justice by ensuring the independence, integrity and competence of lawyers, establishing education and professional development standards for lawyers, regulating the practice of law and preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons

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For further information contact:

David Jordan
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
djordan@lsbc.org  

 

Vinnie Yuen
Communications Officer
604.697.5836
vyuen@lsbc.org