Firm Overview Practice Areas Attorney Profile

New York Attorney Grievance

New York Grievance Defense and Appellate Lawyer

"A Lawyer’s Lawyer."

The Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson has represented lawyers who have been investigated or prosecuted by the state of New York for allegations of ethics violations or professional misconduct.

Richard E. Grayson is included in "The New York Area's Best Lawyers, 2013" edition in the field of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. He is also "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Grayson is a New York ethics and professional responsibility attorney with the essential background to defend lawyers against such charges. He worked for years as an attorney for the Ninth Judicial District Grievance Committee. Since 1982 he has been in private practice defending lawyers and counseling them about ethics.  He also represents applicants to the bar and attorneys who seek reinstatement.

Richard E. Grayson has represented lawyers and disbarred attorneys before department discipline committees on all manner of grievances, such as:
• Neglect of clients (not returning phone calls, not answering correspondence)
• Conflicts of interests
• Forged documents and other fraud
• Improprieties with client funds. Many lawyers do not understand the technical rules applying to escrow accounts, and get in trouble through innocent mistakes.

Representative Cases:

Among the dozens of publicly reported attorney disciplinary cases handled by Richard E. Grayson are the following.  Note that cases that result solely in letters of caution or admonition issued by a grievance committee are not publicly reported and are confidential under Judiciary Law Section 90.

Matter of Polow, 117 A.D.3d 19 (2014): Attorney served with eight charges dealing with escrow violations and neglect. The Appellate Division sustained seven charges and censured the attorney.

Matter of Soto, 119 A.D.3d 8 (2014): Attorney pled guilty to violating Election Law Section 17-108 (2), a misdemeanor, for voting outside his election district. There is no other reported case of any attorney being criminally charged for violating this section. The Appellate Division censured the attorney.

Matter of Terc, 120 A.D.3d 4 (2014): Attorney charged with aiding a non-lawyer in the unauthorized practice of law and failing to safeguard funds. The Appellate Division sustained the charges and censured the attorney.

Matter of Feeney, 2014 N.Y. Slip Op. 05787 (2014): Attorney pled guilty to reckless endangerment in the second degree, a misdemeanor, after being charged with assault in the third degree and strangulation in the second degree. The Appellate Division censured the attorney.

Matter of Wallace, 2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 06701, 972 NYS2d 905 (2013): Attorney was served with 13 charges alleging escrow violations. Although all 13 charges were sustained by the Appellate Division, the attorney received a censure.

Matter of Anonymous (2011): Attorney pleaded guilty in another state to misdemeanor battery. The conviction was eventually expunged. He was publicly disciplined in that other state. The grievance committee in New York moved for an order imposing reciprocal discipline. The Appellate Division denied the grievance committee's motion, refused to publicly discipline the attorney and instead, remanded the matter to the grievance committee for the imposition of a confidential letter of admonition. This matter is unreported since it is confidential under Judiciary Law Section 90 since it resulted in a private letter.

Matter of Grossman, 91 A.D.3d 156 (2011): Attorney served with 13 charges of aiding a non-lawyer in the unauthorized practice of law. Although all 13 charges were sustained by the Appellate Division, the attorney received a censure.

Matter of Shin, 82 A.D.3d 81 (2011): Attorney who was fined $40,000.00 and suspended for one year by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York received only a public censure from the Appellate Division.

Matter of Anonymous (2010): Although this case resulted in a disciplinary proceeding, it is unreported since it is confidential under Judiciary Law Section 90. The Appellate Division, after trial, dismissed all the charges against the attorney. The attorney had been charged in connection with a multi-million dollar bank fraud case. All the other attorneys in the firm were publicly disciplined and one attorney was sent to prison.

Matter of Telemaque, 30 A.D.3d 82 (2006): Attorney censured by Appellate Division for numerous violations of escrow rules.

Matter of Leff, 20 A.D.3d 96, 795 NYS2d 679 (2005): attorney suspended by Appellate Division for one year (with leave to move for reinstatement six months early) for escrow violations, neglect, and failing to cooperate with grievance committees.

Matter of Waitzman, 164 A.D.2d 274 (2004): attorney who had been disbarred was reinstated to practice on his third application.

Matter of Carusona, 304 A.D.2d 200 (2003): attorney censured by Appellate Division for numerous escrow violations.

Matter of Pacchiana, 231 A.D.2d 123, 658 NYS2d 666 (1997): attorney censured by Appellate Division for failure to file tax return and for conduct adversely reflecting on fitness to practice law.

Matter of Drager, 221 A.D.2d 64, 643 NYS2d 1015 (1996): attorney censured by Appellate Division for neglect, conduct adversely reflecting on fitness to practice law, conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and failure to cooperate with the grievance committee.

Matter of Kirschner, 195 A.D.2d 102, 606 NYS2d 324 (1994): attorney censured by Appellate Division for self-dealing in investments and for failure to notify client.

Matter of Greene, 54 NY 2d 118, (1981): attorney found guilty of improper advertising by Appellate Division (78 AD2d 131) and decision upheld by the Court of Appeals. 

Results of grievance committee proceedings are not made public unless the Appellate Division finds against the lawyer and vote to discipline or disbar the attorney.  As a New York attorney reinstatement lawyer, Mr. Grayson is experienced at both litigation of grievances and appeals of grievance committee disciplinary actions.

NYC, Downstate New York and throughout New York State
The Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson provides counsel to attorneys throughout New York State, although most of his clients live or practice in;
First Department: (Manhattan and Bronx counties)
Second Department: (Suffolk, Nassau, Brooklyn, Queens, Richmond, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties)

If you have been notified of an investigation into your professional conduct, or if you are facing discipline by a state grievance committee, contact the Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson for a discreet discussion of your attorney misconduct defense.

Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson
New York Ethics & Professional Responsibility Litigation Attorney
200 Mamaroneck Avenue
Suite 602
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone: 914.682.0037
Fax: 914.684.0646
Email

The Law Offices of Richard E. Grayson represents lawyers and judges against charges of professional misconduct or ethics violations, and counsels bar applicants and attorneys about ethical issues.  The firm serves attorneys and judges in the First and Second Departments and throughout New York State.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

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