The Bar Council has received information regarding fraudulent acts committed by unauthorised 'legal firms' and unauthorised persons claiming to be practising legal firms and lawyers and who have been preying on registered legal firms and members of the public.
Most recently, the Bar Council received information from a legal firm in Kuala Lumpur that they had been compromised in a fraudulent loan transaction involving an unregistered 'legal firm' operating under the name and style of Messrs KY Lee and Associates. The three unqualified persons acting under the guise of this 'legal firm' had represented a vendor in a Sale and Purchase Agreement. After the draw down of the loan, the purchaser's bank alerted their solicitors that the purchaser/borrower had disappeared. A search of the Bar Council Roll of lawyers and firms revealed that the 'firm' did not exist.
Other examples of foul play include 'firms', 'international legal firms', not registered with the Bar Council, but which attempt to pass themselves off as registered firms with addresses and letterheads similar to those registered firms in order to circumvent detection. These bogus law firms and lawyers purport to hold themselves out as legal practitioners and issue letters of demand, provide services related to the incorporation of companies and other legal matters, give written opinions to insurance companies in respect of motor accident cases and even attend court.
Numerous reports have been lodged by the Bar Council with the police authorities upon the discovery of such instances but unfortunately no prosecutions have taken place and the practice of such bogus law firms and lawyers seems to be spreading.
The Bar Council wishes to place all members of the public on the alert regarding these unregistered firms and unqualified persons who pose as lawyers. Members of the public are advised to check with the Bar Council in the event of suspicion of the legal status of firms or lawyers before proceeding to take or act on the advice rendered by such firms or lawyers.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News/Notices 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
