Perth lawyer to be struck off

Nicholas Oud has been removed from the roll of legal practitioners, after the Supreme Court of Western Australia upheld an earlier decision by the Legal Profession Complaints Committee.

In 2018, Mr Oud was found guilty of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct.

The guilty charges included Mr Oud taking $300,000 from his firm’s trust account, which had been received on behalf of Credit Solutions Group.

The $300,000 could only be transferred or utilised with the written consent of the Credit Solution’s managing director, which Mr Oud did not receive.

As a result, Mr Oud had his practising certificate suspended and was ordered to pay costs of more than $50,000.

In January, the State Administrative Tribunal submitted a report to the full bench of the Supreme Court of WA recommending that his name be removed from the roll.

The Supreme Court found that Mr Oud “recklessly” breached the undertaking and dishonestly concealed that conduct by failing to disclose the true state of affairs in relation to the funds.

The court also ruled he improperly attempted to avoid the investigation of his conduct by conveying an offer to CSG contingent upon the withdrawal of a complaint.

Mr Oud was admitted to the legal roll in 1995 and was a principal of Standpoint Legal, which was located in Burswood.