Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Sideris [2024] NSWCATOD 3

Voice actors: Liam Schofield and Shay Riley-Lewis (solicitors at Baker Love Lawyers)

George Sideris had been a solicitor for more than 30 years when, in 2023, the Law Society of NSW applied for the removal of his practicing certificate.

He was accused of professional misconduct in persistently communicating directly with the opposing side (the Salvation Army) instead of going through their solicitor and also being discourteous in his communications.

Sideris argued that he couldn't have engaged in professional misconduct because he wasn't acting as a solicitor at the time he was assisting his mother-in-law in her negotiations with the Salvation Army.

What makes this case so interesting was the correspondence that had been sent by Sideris, all of which were in evidence.