New Jersey Disbars For Thefts From Law Firm

An experienced attorney who stole from her law firm employer has been disbarred by the New Jersey Supreme Court. 

The attorney was admitted in Pennsylvania in 1998 and New Jersey in 2000. She spent most of her career as an associate of the victim attorney. 

The victim reported the conduct to criminal authorities, which led to a deferred prosecution agreement and restitution.

From the report of the Disciplinary Review Board

Although the complaint charged respondent with sixteen counts, comprising dozens of RPC violations, the most serious charges concern her knowing misappropriation of law firm funds. The facts recited in the formal ethics complaint clearly and convincingly support the charges that respondent knowingly misappropriated law firm funds. Because disbarment is the sanction for such misconduct, those are the only charges that we need address.

In the [twelve] matters, respondent improperly pocketed legal fees owed to her law firm, without a claim of right, or the knowledge or consent of her employer, Leeds. She stole these funds for her own purposes and for purposes unrelated to the goals of the firm or the respective client matters. She then made concerted efforts to conceal her misconduct, including accepting direct payments at the firm’s office, after normal business hours, and intercepting monthly client billings.

(Mike Frisch)