Resignation Accepted

The Alberta Law Society Resignation Committee accepted an attorney’s resignation

Greg Lintz is a 67-year-old lawyer who practiced in Edmonton. He was admitted to the Alberta bar in 1981. Over a period of approximately four to five years, Mr. Lintz collaborated with Shawn Beaver, an Edmonton lawyer who was suspended by the LSA in 2015 and subsequently disbarred in 2017. Between 2015 and 2020, their collaboration involved Mr. Beaver referring nine clients to Mr. Lintz who then facilitated Mr. Beaver retaining some significant involvements in the files. Upon being contacted by the LSA about this collaboration in December 2020, Mr. Lintz ceased the collaboration and thereafter cooperated with the LSA in its investigation. A hearing on this matter was initially set for November 2023, but at that time Mr. Lintz, who is dealing with a medical condition, determined to resign and close his practice by the end of the year, resulting in this proceeding. Mr. Lintz entered into undertakings with the LSA covering a number of related matters, including that he would not re-apply to the LSA for admission to the LSA (Undertaking). 

Respondent is an inactive attorney with no prior discipline.

Facts

Mr. Lintz executed a Statement of Admitted Facts (Statement) on October 31, 2023. In the Statement, Mr. Lintz acknowledged that he facilitated legal work being done by Mr. Beaver while he was suspended or disbarred by granting access to his firm’s resources and the support of his legal assistant. This included allowing Mr. Beaver to, inter alia, prepare arguments, pleadings and legal briefs, meet with clients and provide legal advice and opinions, take instructions from clients, review disclosure and other client documents, and script emails and letters to other counsel with the intent that Mr. Lintz’s name be inserted. 

The Statement also confirmed that, while Mr. Lintz did not pay Mr. Beaver, he also made no effort to inquire as to what Mr. Beaver’s arrangements were with the clients. It also confirmed that Mr. Lintz and Mr. Beaver discussed fees, client files, litigation strategy, pleadings and other documents and exchanged disclosure materials. It appears that all of the nine clients were aware of Mr. Beaver’s ongoing involvement in their matters. 

Resignation

Based on the evidence established by the Statement, and taking into account that even if the citation had been proved, it would be unlikely that the conduct would attract disbarment, the Committee determined that it was in the best interests of the public to accept the application of Mr. Lintz to resign pursuant to section 32, effective as of March 12, 2024, the date of the confirmation by the Trust Safety department that the outstanding conditions (referenced in paragraph 4) were fulfilled by Mr. Lintz.

(Mike Frisch)