Bram Moszkowicz, probably the most famous and certainly the most controversial lawyer in the Netherlands, was disbarred for life on Tuesday by the lawyers’ disciplinary body the Raad van Discipline, which found him to have breached a number of professional standards. Moszkowicz was found to have required cash payments in advance from clients, sometimes without explaining how the money was spent, providing the relevant services or making refunds of overpayments; and of failing to honour commitments to appear for clients in person. He was also guilty of accounting irregularities and failures in respect of continuing professional development.

Here’s a report in English from the Amsterdam Herald; and one in Dutch from the leading newspaper NRC.

Moszkowicz is a colourful character to say the least – he’s known not only for successfully defending the populist right-wing politician Geert Wilders when he was prosecuted for inciting racial hatred (here is Moszkowicz on his feet for Wilders in the first, aborted, trial) but for his brushes with the Dutch tax authorities, his defence of the notorious criminal Willem Holleeder and his relationship with the newsreader Eva Jinek – which has apparently just broken up.

Geert Wilders has spoken up for Moszkowicz, saying he’s the best lawyer in the Netherlands. Moszkowicz himself has called the ruling “over the top”. Disbarment is suspended for 30 days pending appeal.

If you understand Dutch, you can hear Bram Moszkowicz giving his side of all this in a TV interview on the Pauw & Witteman show broadcast on Tuesday night.

2012-11-01T12:56:30+00:00Tags: |