A license revocation has been ordered by the Ontario Law Society Hearing Division
The Lawyer is 58 years old. He was called to the bar in 2006. He worked briefly as an associate until he established a practice in 2008.
The first act of professional misconduct before us occurred in 2011. In the face of matrimonial proceedings and a court judgment, the Lawyer initiated a series of transactions on behalf of Mr. Bortolon to encumber his assets and obscure the ownership of his corporations.
This was done by means of a mortgage on his business property as security for nonexistent debt and the backdated transfers of the shares of his corporations without consideration. A number of shares were transferred to the Lawyer and his minor daughter.
Not long after this, the solicitor-client relationship between the Lawyer and Mr. Bortolon broke down. This resulted in two years of escalating threats, significant acrimony, reciprocal complaints and manoeuvring between the men over fees and return of cars, tools, and other items.
This came to a head in June 2016 when the Lawyer and his former client were both found guilty of civil contempt for violating a court order. The two were ultimately sentenced to 45 days’ imprisonment.
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