News Release
October 02, 2013

Vancouver – After admitting to misappropriating approximately $135,000 in client money, Mishal Abrahams has resigned as a lawyer and agreed not to apply for reinstatement with the Law Society for 12 years.

On 85 occasions in 2009 and 2010, Abrahams withdrew money held in trust and used that money for his own benefit or to pay practice debts of his law firm. Abrahams was not authorized or entitled to the money and his behaviour contravenes both the Law Society Rules and his ethical obligations as a lawyer, and constitutes professional misconduct.

Abrahams also committed professional misconduct by improperly borrowing $20,000 from a client of his firm, and by failing to advise he was not protecting the client’s interest. Abrahams later repaid the loan plus interest, in addition to the money improperly taken from trust.

The agreed statement of facts can be found by searching the decisions database.

As a result of his admissions, Abrahams:

ceased membership in the Law Society of BC as of September 26, 2013;

cannot apply for reinstatement to the Law Society before September 26, 2025;

cannot apply for membership in any other law society (or like governing body regulating the practice of law) without first advising in writing the Law Society of BC.

cannot permit his name to appear on the letterhead of, or otherwise work in any capacity whatsoever for, any other lawyer or law firm in BC, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Discipline Committee of the Law Society.

In September 2010, the Law Society sought and obtained Abrahams’ agreement not to practise law and he has not practised since.

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 contact:

Ben Hadaway
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
bhadaway@lsbc.org

Robyn Crisanti
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
604.697.5845
rcrisanti@lsbc.org