In re Lawrence

• Docket Number: 2023-344-M.P.
• Decision Date: 19 December 2023
• Parties: In the Matter of James S. Lawrence.
• Court: Rhode Island Supreme Court

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In the Matter of James S. Lawrence.

No. 2023-344-M.P.

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

December 19, 2023

Attorney(s) on Appeal

For Petitioner: Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq., Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

For Respondent: William C. Dimitri, Esq.

Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Justices Long, JJ.

ORDER

On December 4, 2023, this Court entered an Order disbarring Mr. James S. Lawrence after receiving his Affidavit Voluntarily Consenting to Disbarment, which was filed with the Court on November 15, 2023. In the Matter of James S. Lawrence, No. 2023-344-M.P, slip op. at 1 (R.I. Dec. 4, 2023). Per a prior Order of the Court entered on April 20, 2023, Mr. Lawrence was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law. In re Lawrence, 291 A.3d 1012, 1012 (R.I. 2023) (mem.). In the latter Order, the Court had appointed Attorney Matthew F. Callaghan, Jr., as Special Master to take possession of and inventory Mr. Lawrence's client files and banking accounts, and empowered the Special Master to take whatever steps necessary to protect the clients' interest; including, but not limited to returning files to the clients or new counsel of each client's choice. The Special Master position has been vacant since August 26, 2023.

The Court hereby appoints the Honorable Michael A. Silverstein, Special Master of Accounts and Marshalling Assets, over Mr. Lawrence's and his former firm, Lawrence and Associates' (a.k.a. Lawrence and Associates, LLC), trust and

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operating accounts. Regarding said bank accounts, the Special Master is given sole and exclusive access to the following accounts heretofore controlled by Mr. James Lawrence, either solely or jointly with any other parties: business and operating accounts; trust accounts, including special trust accounts; special needs trust accounts; clients' accounts; estate accounts; and any and all other accounts related to Mr. Lawrence's former law practice that he has in the past utilized for the deposit and maintenance of fiduciary and/or clients' funds and fee advances. The foregoing list of accounts shall also include any accounts where Mr. Lawrence formerly served as an agent, special agent, trustee, personal representative, executor, power of attorney, or custodian. The Special Master shall have sole control over these above described accounts, to the exclusion of Mr. Lawrence, until further order of this Court. By this Order, the Court prohibits Mr. Lawrence or any of his agents...