Why controversial legal couple Pat and Jane Lennon are no longer practising lawyers

Pat Lennon carved a career representing the likes of Mick Gatto and Danny Nikolic but he and wife Jane have been under close scrutiny by regulators following a News Corp investigation.

Lawyer Pat Lennon and his wife Jane are no longer legal practitioners as regulators close in on the controversial couple.

Lawyer Pat Lennon and his wife Jane no longer appear on the register of Victorian lawyers as regulators continue to scrutinise the controversial couple.

In a statement, the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner, Fiona McLeay, said that each of Mr and Mrs Lennon “does not currently hold a practising certificate and is therefore unable to engage in legal practice”.

In addition, Ms McLeay has launched legal action against Mr Lennon, whose clients have previously included underworld figure Mick Gatto and former jockey Danny Nikolic.

Separately, Mr Lennon faces drugs charges including trafficking methamphetamine, with a committal hearing due to be held at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in a fortnight.

It comes after a News Corp investigation into the couple and Mrs Lennon’s business Argyle Lending, which lends money at interest rates of 20 per cent and up.

Pat Lennon, (centre), with jockey Danny Nikolic (left). Picture: Ellen Smith

Mr and Mrs Lennon were referred to the Legal Services Commissioner, Fiona McLeay, in June last year over allegations they misled the court in a case involving lending by Argyle.

It was one of at least four cases where judges have thrown out claims over property by the Lennons, Argyle or associates including Mr Nikolic or Mr Gatto’s son-in-law, Danny Awad.

In March, Mr Lennon was also found by a Federal Court registrar to have abused court processes after running a case on behalf of a dead client.

It appears the Lennons voluntarily removed themselves from the register of practitioners, as no disciplinary action has been finalised against either.

However, Ms McLeay has launched legal proceedings against Mr Lennon, with a first hearing due at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal next Thursday.

Jane Lennon. Picture: Supplied

The contents of the lawsuit were not immediately available but in May the Legal Services Board’s director of investigations, Matthew Anstee, warned Mr Lennon that he was planning to prosecute him at VCAT for professional misconduct.

In a letter to Mr Lennon, Mr Anstee said the lawyer sent “discourteous and threatening” text messages to barrister James Podaridis in an attempt to induce him to change his evidence in a lawsuit.

Mr Lennon is already embroiled in separate VCAT action against the LSB after he challenged its failure to renew his practising certificate. As a result of the lawsuit, the board was forced to extend his certificate until the stoush is resolved.

Mr Lennon did not respond to requests for comment.

Reached by telephone, Mrs Lennon declined to say why she had handed in her certificate.

“I don’t want to talk to you, you’ve persecuted us - it’s unbelievable,” she said before hanging up.