Matthew Laba: Sydney man allegedly engaged in legal practice without license
A lawyer who allegedly practised across Sydney without a license for months and represented four different clients has had his matter heard in court for the first time.
Southern Courier
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A lawyer who allegedly practised across Sydney without a license for months and represented four different clients has had his matter heard in court for the first time.
Matthew Laba, 26, did not appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after he was charged 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 charges came after a court hearing for Bondi cafe owner Lucas Azzopardi – who was defending a charge of contravening an apprehended violence order – was scrapped as a result of claims from a NSW Police prosecutor that Laba was allegedly not admitted to practise law.
Azzopardi’s matter was ultimately withdrawn and dismissed in July and this publication does not suggest he knew Laba was allegedly unlicensed.
The Law Society of NSW previously confirmed Laba did “not hold a current NSW practising certificate granted by the Law Society Council”.
When asked earlier this month, a spokesman from the Law Society said it had “commenced proceedings against” the 26-year-old for breaching “section 10 and 11 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law”.
Court documents reveal Laba has allegedly “never been admitted to the Australian legal profession in NSW or in any other jurisdiction” and at the time of his alleged offending he “was not an ‘Australian lawyer’ an ‘Australian legal practitioner’ or a ‘qualified entity”.
At Liverpool Local Court on July 21 last year, Laba allegedly engaged in legal practice by appearing in sentencing proceedings for Hayley Kitson before Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim.
A few months later, on October 18, the 26-year-old allegedly appeared in sentencing proceedings for Michelle Manousis before Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson at Sutherland Local Court.
On January 18 at Downing Centre Local Court he allegedly appeared in criminal proceedings for Ms Al-Labadidi before Magistrate Miranda Moody and Magistrate Christine Haskett.
Documents reveal five days later on January 23 at the same court, Laba allegedly told Magistrate Rodney Brender he was entitled to engage in legal practice. He allegedly appeared in criminal proceedings for Lucas Azzopardi and stated he was admitted to practice.
Laba also allegedly made representations to acting sergeant Caitlin Blomfield that he was entitled to engage in legal practice.
On each occasion, documents state he allegedly did not seek leave to appear before the court.
In court on Tuesday when asked by Magistrate Susan Horan if Laba was in attendance, his lawyer Wilson Tighe said he wasn’t and was “not on bail”.
Mr Tighe asked Ms Horan if the matter could be adjourned as his firm was now “formally engaged in the matter”.
He told the court they had been in contact with the Law Society in attempts to resolve the matter.
“I’ll just mark it … plea must be entered [on the next occasion] to obtain instructions,” Ms Horan said.
Laba will return to Downing Centre Local Court on September 19.
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