Lawyer Gone Bad Dep’t: What Happens When You Don’t Pay Taxes?

Everyone has to follow the law, but, one might argue, lawyers should be at least a bit more attentive to it. So, what happens to a lawyer who fails to file or pay taxes? The other day, a lawyer who had been a partner at the Kaye Scholer law firm was suspended for six months. That happened even though he had been the head of the firm’s pro bono program. In that capacity, witnesses testified on his behalf, he devoted “thousands of hours” to pro bono activities on behalf of his firm representing death row defendants and gave a great deal of time to and made substantial financial contributions to his alma mater, Skidmore College, as a trustee.

The appellate court decision noted that the lawyer lived in New Jersey and worked in New York City, but that he hadn’t paid New York, New Jersey, or federal taxes.
 
A sad case.
 
The ruling is Matter of Howley, 2009 N.Y. Slip Op. 09410 (App. Div. 1st Dep’t Dec. 17, 2009).