Auckland defence lawyer Barry Hart has been found guilty of professional misconduct in 2008.
The Lawyers and Conveyances Disciplinary Tribunal has released a judgment finding him guilty on three counts of misconduct, which were brought by the Law Society's standards committee.
The charges involved Hart failing to pay a private investigator, obstructing the society's investigation into his behaviour, and overcharging a client who was facing criminal charges.
The person facing charges, and their family, paid him $35,000, which the tribunal agreed was excessive.
Both parties must now file submissions to the tribunal on potential penalties, which include being suspended or struck off, an order for compensation of up to $20,000 and a fine of up to $15,000. The deadline for filing is 17 August.
