A Law Society of B.C. review panel has found additional instances of professional misconduct on the part of a lawyer who flowed millions of dollars through his trust account without providing any legal services for several clients.
The review panel's Oct. 28 decision is the latest set of sanctions against lawyer Neal Burton Wang.
In September 2023, a tribunal panel found Wang liable of professional misconduct three times and violated the Legal Profession Act four times.
Among the violations, Wang had wired $2.6 million to a company in Dubai, through his trust account, on behalf of a client who was under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In its citation, the society alleged that between August 2017 and June 2018 Wang used his trust account to disburse close to $3.2 million without providing substantial legal services or making reasonable inquiries and records about his clients — important steps to lessen the risk of money laundering occurring.
The original tribunal dismissed four of seven counts of alleged professional misconduct. Both the society’s executive director and Wang filed for a review and cross-review of the decision.
Released this week, the latest decision from the five-person review board — chaired by Herman Van Ommen KC — determined Wang had in fact committed three more counts of professional misconduct. The review board did not find in favour of any of Wang’s appeals by cross-review.
Wang and his counsel, Joven Narwal KC, had sought further disclosures and for a client to give evidence. But the review board found the original panel did not make any errors.
Wang is now set to face a disciplinary hearing at a date to be determined.
The society can fine, suspend or, in extreme cases, disbar lawyers for professional misconduct.
