THE Law Society of British Columbia recently announced that Surrey lawyer Pir Indar Paul Singh Sahota has been suspended for five months for committing professional misconduct.

The hearing panel found that in 2020 Sahota committed professional misconduct as set out in five allegations involving his conflicting role as counsel for, first the male spouse, and then the female spouse in the same family law litigation. The misconduct included preparing and witnessing a release that contained untrue statements, and filing an affidavit that contained confidential client information.

In making their decision, the hearing panel took into consideration the fact Sahota has been a lawyer for 40 years and should, by this point, understand the undivided duty of loyalty a lawyer owes to their client, his lack of understanding of his misconduct along with an absence of a commitment to change, and his previous professional conduct record.

Singh is also ordered to pay $15,927 in costs and disbursements.

For the panel’s detailed reasons, see the decision of the hearing panel.