Former Surrey lawyer Rohita Pannu declared ungovernable and disbarred

Former Surrey lawyer Rohita Pannu has been disbarred for professional misconduct for failing to cooperate in the Law Society’s investigation, after a Law Society hearing panel declared her ungovernable pursuant to a summary hearing.

The Law Society issued a citation against Pannu in May 2024 for failing to cooperate with an investigation into a complaint by failing to respond promptly, fully, and substantively to correspondence from the Law Society. After considering medical evidence, the hearing panel found Pannu was not experiencing a mental health condition at the material time that adversely impacted her ability to participate in the investigation. The hearing panel found that Pannu’s failure to respond amounted to a marked departure from the standard expected of a lawyer.

Pannu’s professional conduct record reflects an extensive disciplinary history, including nine concurrent administrative suspensions. The panel found that Pannu demonstrated a pattern of disregard for her professional obligations to the public and the profession, including consistent and repetitive failures to respond to Law Society inquiries. The panel declared Pannu to be ungovernable and affirmed that, where a respondent is ungovernable, disbarment must follow as it is the only disciplinary action that will effectively protect the public.

Pannu was also ordered to pay $6,156 in costs to the Law Society of BC.

The full decision of the hearing panel can be read here.