Toronto, Canada—A long-serving lawyer in Toronto is facing serious allegations that have led to his suspension from practicing law in Ontario. Andrew Rogerson, best known for a high-profile $5.5 million lawsuit against a prestigious private girls’ school for failing to protect his daughter from bullying, now finds his professional reputation in jeopardy.
The Law Society Tribunal has intervened, highlighting findings from a Northwest Territories court that paint Rogerson’s behavior in a negative light. Reports indicate he ignored a court order requiring the return of a $90,000 retainer and allegedly assisted a client in moving $1 million in gold bars that were subject to a freeze order. Rogerson has contested these findings and is currently appealing the court’s decision while a parallel investigation by the Law Society of Ontario is underway.
According to the tribunal, there is a significant risk posed to the public and to the integrity of the legal system if Rogerson is allowed to continue working as an attorney during the ongoing investigations. A recent ruling from the NWT Supreme Court was particularly critical of Rogerson, describing his refusal to be cross-examined by a female lawyer as “reprehensible” and condemning his failure to account for the handling of trust funds.
Efforts to reach Rogerson for a comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Ron Barlas, who has been accused of diverting millions from the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation into his own businesses, wired the $90,000 retainer to Rogerson just before he was aware that his assets were to be frozen due to fraud allegations.
The NWT court ruled that Rogerson not only failed to return the retainer as required but also spent the funds without providing any legal services tied to that money. Justice N.E. Devlin, in a March ruling, described Rogerson’s actions as a manipulation designed to justify depleting the retainer.
Additionally, the court found that Rogerson facilitated a shipment of gold and silver bullion exceeding $1 million from Barlas’ possession, in violation of a Mareva order. This bullion has since been returned. As a result, Rogerson was ordered to refund the retainer and pay nearly $47,000 in legal costs. The judge also communicated these findings to the Law Society of Ontario, which later sought Rogerson’s temporary suspension pending further investigation.
This is not the first time Rogerson has faced allegations of misconduct. Earlier this year, he received a one-month suspension for sexually harassing a female employee. Regulators are scrutinizing his behavior, noting that he has previously been criticized by judges for failing to comply with court orders in a separate lawsuit related to his daughter’s case.
The tribunal has outlined a number of serious concerns regarding potential misappropriation of trust funds and disregard for court directives. If these allegations are validated, they could suggest a significant breach of ethical standards for lawyers. The panel concluded that a suspension was warranted to mitigate risks posed to the public and to the legal profession’s integrity.
As investigations continue, Rogerson remains barred from practicing law, leaving his future in the profession uncertain.
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