Queensland Law Society Media Release

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QLS Acts to Protect Gold Coast Solicitor's Clients

The Queensland Law Society has acted swiftly to close down a Gold Coast solicitor and protect his clients' interests following the uncovering of massive fraud and misappropriation, Society President, Mr Glenn Ferguson, said today.

Mr Ferguson said the Society had cancelled the practicing certificate of Stephen John Hockey and placed his sole practice at Bundall on the Gold Coast into receivership following an initial admission by him that he had forged his clients' signatures on mortgages, borrowed money against the security of clients' properties without their consent or knowledge and taken the money for his own use and had misappropriated money received for stamp duty payments.

"The Society is now undertaking a comprehensive audit of his seized records to identify the scope and detail of his shocking fraud and theft and so far it seems at least $550,000 is missing. Our auditors are combing through Mr Hockey's files and this initial amount will undoubtedly rise. Certainly, we are appealing to his former clients to contact us if they have concerns."

Mr Ferguson said the Society had notified Queensland Police of the matter and its own investigators were continuing to try and identify all potentially affected clients. As receivers for the practice, the Society was following through on current matters including property settlements to ensure that clients were not adversely affected.

"I want to assure all of Mr Hockey's former clients that their legitimate interests will be protected by the Fidelity Guarantee Fund which is funded by all solicitors to provide this protection and no legitimate loss will be refused. Undeniably, this means that the overwhelming majority of decent, honest and ethical solicitors in Queensland will have to carry this huge financial burden but the Fidelity Guarantee Fund is there just for that purpose," Mr Ferguson said.

"Demonstrably, this is an appalling breach of trust and I deeply regret that there is the potential for every solicitor in Queensland to have their good names and reputations tarnished by the dishonesty of one. However, we are determined to follow through on our responsibilities and duties to ensure that clients are protected and that Mr Hockey faces the full force of the law."