Solicitor Luke Adamson allegedly defrauded almost $1.5m from clients

A northern beaches solicitor who allegedly defrauded his ‘vulnerable’ clients including those in jail of almost $1.5 million has been charged.

Luke Adamson has been charged with 43 counts of fraud. Source: Facebook

A northern beaches solicitor who allegedly defrauded his “vulnerable” clients including those in jail of almost $1.5 million has been charged.

Now working for Anglicare ACT, Luke Adamson, 55, was arrested at Parramatta police station on Thursday following a lengthy investigation.

Police allege Adamson misappropriated money meant to be held in a trust account for clients of his Manly law practice between 2009 and 2013.

It is understood many of his allegedly defrauded clients included disabled people, the elderly and also people in prison.

Mr Adamson has been charged with 43 counts of fraud and is due to face Parramatta Local Court on January 24. Picture: Stock.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett said Adamson’s alleged offending was uncovered after the Law Society of NSW referred the matter to police in 2017, sparking an 18-month long investigation that ended in Adamson’s arrest.

“He was (allegedly) basically removing the funds from the trust accounts of his clients,” she said.

“We’re alleging the former solicitor removed trust fund monies from his clients and transferred them for his own use.

“It’s quite significant. It’s breaking the trust of your clients - most of these are vulnerable people who have put money into trust accounts and they’ve allegedly been defrauded.”

The Law Society of NSW received a number of complaints about Adamson before launching its own investigation and referring the matter to police.

Adamson lost his practicing certificate in 2013 and in December last year he began working for charity Anglicare as a manager in the regional city of Orange.

Sources said it was “highly unlikely” many of Adamson’s clients would have their money returned.

He has been charged with 43 counts of fraud and is due to face Parramatta Local Court on January 24.

Anglicare ACT released a statement just after 2.30pm today confirming Adamson had been fired a day after his arrest, saying an audit would be conducted into the Orange office where he had been working.

“We were shocked to hear today that Mr Adamson has been charged with fraud relating to his previous legal practice,” the charity said.

“On becoming aware of this, Mr Adamson has immediately been stood down.

“We have also today commissioned our auditors Ernst and Young to conduct a forensic audit of the Orange office to identify any irregularities.

“As a public benevolent institution, we need to assure donors and funders that we take this matter very seriously and we will seek to deal with this thoroughly to ensure we are upholding the highest standards of probity.”