News Release
November 22, 2010

Vancouver –The Law Society of BC announced today that Vancouver lawyer Robert Palkowski is resigning in the face of disciplinary proceedings related to serious allegations of professional misconduct.

Palkowski has agreed to permanently cease practising law and will not ever be permitted to reapply to become a lawyer.

In August, the Discipline Committee of the Law Society issued a citation against Palkowski, alleging he committed professional misconduct related to actions in 2003 and 2004. He was to appear at a Law Society hearing in May 2011.

Included among the 11 allegations:

He circumvented the terms of a BC Supreme Court order and attempted to mislead the court.

He breached his ethical obligations by receiving funds from an individual and disbursing them for the benefit of a client without advising the individual that Palkowski was not protecting the individual’s interests.

He represented parties in a BC Supreme Court action despite a conflict of interest.

The allegations are posted on the Law Society website.

“The Law Society has a strong case against this lawyer. Depending on the findings of a hearing panel, Palkowski faced significant disciplinary action and possibly disbarment,” commented Stuart Cameron, the society’s Director of Investigations. “With Palkowski’s resignation on these terms, the public interest is well protected because he will no longer ever be entitled to practise law in BC.”

The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 10,000 lawyers in the province, setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct that ensure the public is well-served by a competent, honourable legal profession.

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For further information or to arrange an interview:

Robyn Crisanti
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
604-697-5845
rcrisanti@lsbc.org

Lesley Pritchard
Communications Officer
604-443-5708
lpritchard@lsbc.org