A panel with the Law Society Tribunal has accepted that there are reasonable grounds to believe there is a significant risk of harm to the public interest in the administration of justice regarding the licence of Quinte-area lawyer Gregory Edward Brant Castellano.
In their order, the panel is calling on both parties to put in submissions on whether there should be an interlocutory suspension or restrictions on the licence.
The Law Society of Ontario brought forward a motion in November 2024 against Castellano alleging professional misconduct, not cooperating with the Law Society, failing to report criminal charges to the Law Society (which include allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting a member of the public), practising law while not licensed and not maintaining books and records.
The LSO said these were reasonable grounds to believe that there is a significant risk of harm to members of the public, or to the public interest in the administration of justice.
A suspension hearing began back in December 2024 and continued with two dates in January 2025, one on the 3rd and one on the 17th.
In their analysis laid out in the order, the Tribunal panel rejected the Law Society’s submission that there is risk of harm to the public saying Castellano’s criminal charges “are unrelated to client representation and occurred in the context of an intimate relationship with an adult.”
However, the panel agreed the Law Society had proven there are reasonable grounds to believe there is a significant risk of harm to the public interest in the administration of justice if Castellano was allowed to continue to practise without suspension or restriction until the charges are proven or resolved.
This was based on the nature of the criminal charges, as well as what the Tribunal said was Castellano’s “failure to protect confidential client information and to some extent, failure to co-operate.”
“The criminal charges are reprehensible. They are strengthened by forensic evidence,” the Tribunal panel said in its conclusion.
“These facts, supported by Mr. Castellano’s failure to be candid about police seizure of confidential client information and to seek return of, or security for, that information, plus his reliance on his own failures to excuse his non-cooperation with the Law Society provide sufficient grounds for our conclusion.”
The Law Society of Ontario will make their submissions on March 24, followed by Castellano on April 2.
The Law Society will then have a chance to respond to Castellano’s submissions, if there are any responses, that are due April 9.
