Former Auckland lawyer Kenneth Yee has been struck off for for misusing clients' funds to the tune of more than $95,000.
The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal said in a statement that as a law firm employee he diverted more than $95,000 of fees to companies he was associated with.
He also put more than $500,000 from a trust account into one of his companies, in a series of unauthorised loans.
The tribunal said the loans were fully repaid but Mr Yee has not repaid the $95,000.
It found his misconduct would clearly be regarded by lawyers of good standing as disgraceful or dishonourable, and it was also a wilful or reckless contravention of the trust accounting regulations.
