Sydney barrister Roger de Robillard faces sanction from NSW Bar Association

Colourful Sydney barrister Roger de Robillard faces disciplinary action from the NSW Bar Association.

Sydney lawyer Roger de Robillard. Picture: AAP

Colourful Sydney barrister Roger de Robillard faces disciplinary action from the NSW Bar Association after being found to have made unfounded and serious allegations of misconduct against a solicitor, Balmain Lawyers principal Warren Wells.

“The respondent repeatedly made the allegation that Mr Wells had commenced and used the proceedings for an improper purpose,” documents submitted to the NSW Administrative and Civil Tribunal by the Bar Association read. “The allegation that another legal practitioner had assisted his client to breach the law is an allegation of serious misconduct. The respondent at no time presented the court with any material in support of this allegation.”

Mr de Robillard also failed to pay Mr Wells $16,906 in costs awarded in 2017.

Mr de Robillard is best known for his involvement in a minor diplomatic stoush involving Julian Moti, the Solomon Islands politician wanted for extradition by Australia. Mr Moti, who was later extradited, became the attorney-general of the Solomon Islands.

In 2006, the government of Manasseh Sogavare flew Mr de Robillard to the Solomon Islands to advise it on how to get Moti out of jail. At the time, Mr de Robillard told AAP there were “amazing parallels” between the case and his own experience in Vanuatu in 1996, when he almost become attorney-general there.

Instead, he was jailed on contempt of court charges – and remained there until the Bar Association came to his defence and the decision was overturned.

The Bar Association has previously suspended his practising licence over unfurnished tax returns. It has now asked the tribunal to have Mr de Robillard removed from the Supreme Court roll and the Australian Legal Profession Register.