Gold Coast Property Lawyer In Deep Trouble

OPINION
by Tim O'Dwyer M.A., LL.B Queensland Solicitor & Consumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au

Gold Coast solicitor Michael Yarwood, who once protested that he was a Rotarian and a church-goer, has been struck off as a Queensland lawyer.

This month the Queensland Law Society resolved to cancel his practising certificate following a probe into his discontinued practice and trust account.

Yarwood also reportedly faces possible criminal charges after the Law Society referred him to law enforcement agencies over what it said was a `serious irregularity' in trust monies allegedly received by his practice.

A Law Society investigation will focus on the Yarwood Legal Group, the former law practice which Yarwood closed last December.

The Society also appointed a panel of accountants to wind up the Group.

In a note posted on the QLS website, the Law Society Council said it had passed several resolutions regarding Yarwood's former practice. These include:

• That, pursuant to Section 318(d)(ii) of the Legal Profession Act 2004, external intervention in relation to the law practice of Yarwood Legal Group may take place, as the law practice has committed a serious irregularity, in relation to trust money received by the practice.



• That, pursuant to Section 319(1) of the Legal Profession Act 2004, having regard to the interests of the clients, owners and employees of the practice, external intervention is warranted.



• To appoint, pursuant to Section 319(2)(c) of the Legal Profession Act 2004, Glenn Ashley Forster, Grenville Rex Hughes, William Thomas Hourigan, Deborah Yu-Min Lai and Michael Craig Drinkall, all being members of CPA Australia employed by the Queensland Law Society, and Sherry Janette Brown, a solicitor employed by the Queensland Law Society, jointly and severally, as the receiver for the law practice, Yarwood Legal Group.

Last year Yarwood accused the Law Society of bullying tactics over a series of investigations conducted against him in relation to allegations that he played a leading role in a series of overpriced property marketeering scams. Yarwood had been hauled before a complaints tribunal by QLS prosecutors, who laid multiple charges against him. However the tribunal found the conflict of interest allegations - acting for both vendor and purchaser on the same transaction - could not be substantiated. Following the decision, Yarwood was reported as saying:

"Sometimes I think they saw me as a prized scalp."

In a letter to the Law Society published last year, Mr Yarwood accused it of being arrogant and out of touch with sole practitioners. Here is the real background to the Law Society action from five years ago: Landmark Marketeering Finding by Tribunal

Incredibly Yarwood has in the meantime, according to The Gold Coast Bulletin, become a self-appointed ombudsman, fielding hundreds of complaints from people whom he claims are victims of greedy lawyers.

Earlier he told The Bulletin that since his spats with the Law Society he lost his business, his marriage and his health while his father publicly confirmed that his son's health had deteriorated because of the alleged Law Society harassment.

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