Lawyer faces PM's complaint

Olinda Woodroffe. Photo / Geoff Dale

High-profile Auckland lawyer Leulua'ialii Olinda Woodroffe is facing professional conduct charges after a complaint from Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Samoa Law Society secretary Rosella Papalii said Woodroffe would face a tribunal in Apia on November 15 and 16 for breaching the society's code of ethics. She is accused of using insulting words in a confrontation with a Samoan justice official two years ago.

Woodroffe represented Thai tiler Sunan Siriwan in the Taito Phillip Field corruption case, and is representing the family of Folole Muliaga in a civil case against Mercury Energy. Muliaga died after her power was cut in 2007.

Papalii said Woodroffe faced two charges of professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a solicitor in the Supreme Court.

Woodroffe said the Samoan Law Society served her with papers dated July 7, 2009 on Friday. However, they did not say what part of the code she had violated. She said criminal charges for uttering insulting words at Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration employees were dropped last week.

The Prime Minister alleged a letter from Woodroffe asking for criminal charges to be withdrawn was unprofessional and/or unethical. The Ministry of Justice's complaint related to an alleged incident between Woodroffe and a court employee in September 2008.