News Release
September 01, 2011

Vancouver - A Law Society hearing panel has ordered the suspension of Kelowna lawyer Douglas W. Welder for 45 days for his deliberate and prolonged failure to cooperate with Law Society investigators during an investigation.

Welder was found to have failed to respond to questions in letters from the Society and to respond to a request to provide details of bank accounts.

These failures amounted to professional misconduct and Welder will not be permitted to practice law during the suspension which takes effect October 1, 2011.

The Law Society is mandated to protect the public interest and will continue to pursue ongoing investigations. To that end, if a lawyer does not cooperate with an investigation, he or she may face disciplinary action, as in this case.

The ongoing investigation by the Law Society involves an allegation that Welder participated in a fraudulent investment scheme. The probe has faced obstacles because of Welder’s failure to cooperate. Welder has now complied with the Law Society’s requests for information.

The investigation into Welder’s alleged participation in the fraudulent investment scheme has been slowed by his misconduct but the Society is working to bring it to a conclusion.

The three reports related to this decision are available in the hearing reports section of the Law Society website.

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:

Lesley Pritchard
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
lpritchard@lsbc.org

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