Matthew Laba: Sydney man accused of practising law without a licence

A Sydney man who allegedly practised law without a licence has been hit with multiple charges. Read about the allegations.

Mr Laba leaving Sutherland Local Court after representing a client in October 2022. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A lawyer, who represented an influencer in a botched court hearing, has been hit with multiple charges and accused of practising without a licence.

Matthew Laba, 26, has been slapped with four counts of entity engage in legal practice when not a qualified entity and two counts of unqualified entity advertise can engage in legal practice.

The issue came to a head during the hearing of NU Health Cafe owner and influencer Lucas Azzopardi earlier this year when it was brought to a halt when a NSW Police prosecutor made an allegation Laba was not admitted to practise law.

Azzopardi was defending a charge of contravening an apprehended violence order and this publication does not suggest he was in any way aware of allegations Laba was unlicensed.

The Law Society of NSW confirmed in January “Matthew Laba does not hold a current NSW practising certificate granted by the Law Society Council”.

Matthew Laba. Photo: LinkedIn

However, when asked today, a spokesman said it had “commenced proceedings against” Laba for breaching ”section 10 and 11 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law”. No further comment was provided.

In March, this publication reported Laba had departed a law firm, with a spokesman previously saying it had no prior knowledge of the issue.

Azzopardi’s hearing was well underway when the bombshell claim was made, with both Laba and the prosecutor having questioned the officer in charge of the matter, on the witness stand.

It was alleged Azzopardi was at a nightclub when he had attempted to have “multiple conversations” with a woman he was prohibited from speaking to because of an AVO.

Laba told the court he had been advised he couldn’t continue to act in the matter while the certificate issue was unresolved.

Magistrate Rodney Brender was hesitant to vacate the matter, saying a witness had been waiting to resolve the matter for seven months.

“If you know more than what you’re telling me, then tell me, are you a solicitor of the Supreme Court?” Mr Brender asked Laba.

Lucas Azzopardi outside Downing Centre with Matthew Laba.

He pointed towards a possible “suspension” as the reason for his certificate not appearing in the registry.

“It may be you’re an innocent party … I want to try and work it out without wasting too much court time,” Mr Brender said.

The matter was ultimately adjourned to February where a new hearing date was set and the matter was ultimately withdrawn and dismissed in July.

“Somebody should investigate this … the court has wasted a hearing date … and resources,” Mr Brender said.

According to Laba’s now-deleted LinkedIn account, it said he was a solicitor and had received a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce from The University of Notre Dame Australia and attended St Ignatius’ College, Riverview from 2007 to 2012.

Laba is expected to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on August 22.