Lawyer Vic Cuoco still allowed to practise despite cocaine convictions

A prominent lawyer convicted of supplying cocaine after a Sydney party cruise is allowed to continue practising after a decision by the NSW Law Society.

A high-flying legal eagle who was caught dealing cocaine will still be able to practise law following a ruling by the NSW Law Society.

After months of uncertainty, the NSW Law Society decided the fate of Vittorio ‘Vic’ Cuoco’s 28-year legal career, allowing him to continue practising as principal of CVC Law despite his criminal convictions.

“The Law Society of NSW Council considered the convictions, including the circumstances of the offence,” a spokesman told The Sunday Telegraph.

“It determined to grant Mr Cuoco a practising certificate subject to conditions.”

Prior to his arrest early last year Cuoco lived by the ‘work hard play hard’ mentality, attending celebrity and charity events while running his law firm in Wollongong.

Vittorio ‘Vic’ Cuoco, a Wollongong lawyer leaving court earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

His commitment to charity was once recognised by former prime minister Julia Gillard, while his wife Cyn flaunted their Balgownie mansion as a contestant on hit television show My Kitchen Rules.

But the District Court heard after his father died more than a decade ago, he took up binge drinking and using cocaine while out with his friends.

“I didn’t want to go down his path when you work yourself silly and don’t get to enjoy it,” Cuoco told a court earlier this year.

“(My father) left a great legacy but never got to enjoy it.”

His career and marriage began to implode in February 2020 when he dealt cocaine, hidden inside a fake key, to two of his male friends and two women following a Sydney boat cruise, the court heard.

Unbeknown to him, police had bugged his Pitt St hotel room, and watched on as he took part in a drug-fuelled weekend away from home on February 6 and 7.

When police raided his Balgownie mansion and Wollongong law firm in the weeks following, they found an unlicensed poker machine, bag of cocaine hidden inside a piece of football memorabilia and an unregistered air rifle.

Late last year he pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including four counts of drug supply.

In December, the lawyer was convicted and placed on a 12-month community corrections order for drug supply and weapons charges, despite his lawyer telling the court his legal career could be threatened if he was convicted.

The Law Society of NSW had issued a show-cause notice as a result of the charges, and Cuoco appealed his convictions in the NSW District Court earlier this year.

Appearing before Judge Jenni Girdham SC, Cuoco revealed his marriage had ended as a result of the charges and his reputation had been “tarnished”.

“It was actually a day thing, we attended an event together and basically went back to the room and just had a social gathering,” he told the court.

“I had some (cocaine) with me and shared it with them. That was it.”

Judge Girdham upheld the convictions, sentenced him to a 12-month conditional release order for the drug supply charges. For the cocaine possession, the unlicensed poker machine and firearm offences, he was also convicted and fined a total of $4250.

“(Cuoco) was indulging in a party lifestyle,” she said.

“That lifestyle led to his involvement in the cohort (of cocaine users). It led to the supply”.

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