What the Law Society of Ontario isn't telling you about your lawyer

National Post

25-06-2025

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Instead, there is a sanitized regulatory history that shows Bowie was suspended by the Law Society in December 2022 after it found he did not cooperate with investigations into his billing practices and allegations of failing to serve clients.
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In January 2023, Aubin sued Bowie in a $275,000 civil suit, alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of confidence, breach of the human rights code and defamation.
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Bowie was charged criminally in April 2023 with making death threats against former client Leanne Aubin, attempting to buy a firearm illegally and two counts of extortion, according to court documents.
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A civil court ruling in October 2024 found his conduct towards Aubin was 'an offence to the court's sense of decency.' The judge ordered Bowie to pay Aubin $235,000, summarizing his conduct as 'a staggering breach of the trust obligations a lawyer owes to a client.'
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He was found guilty in March 2025 of making death threats, harassment and one count of extortion. He is awaiting sentencing, which is set for the end of July.
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Bowie was also found in a summary hearing by the Law Society in June 2023 to have 'failed to co-operate with an investigation of the Law Society by failing to produce information and documents despite requests from the Law Society's investigator.'
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In some cases, public awareness of serious allegations facing lawyers can be kept hidden for years while the LSO investigates.
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It took more than five years for the Law Society of Ontario to release its decision regarding sexual misconduct allegations made against Toronto lawyer Toomas Ounapuu in 2019. Throughout that time, there was no reference to the allegations posted publicly on his professional LSO profile.
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In February 2025, an LSO tribunal finally issued its findings: Ounapuu sexually harassed a client 'by making unwelcome verbal comments that were sexually suggestive and/or degrading,' failed to provide receipts for payments and committed professional misconduct.
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Ounapuu was 'granted permission to surrender' his licence.
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The issue of hidden allegations remaining secret for years is far from unique. The Law Society received 6,478 complaints in 2024. The average duration from the complaint being made to hearing completion was nearly four and a half years.
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In interviews with the IJB, Ounapuu has repeatedly denied all allegations including sexual harassment. 'I was a lawyer for 52 years,' said a written statement Ounapuu provided through his lawyer.
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'This was my first and only time before the Law Society Tribunal. As such, I do not feel that I am in a position to make any comments about the procedures and transparency of the Tribunal.'
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