Supreme Court Appellate Division reinstates Canada attorney Timothy Andison to law practice in New York

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division Third Judicial Department ruled on the petition for reinstatement from suspension filed by Canada attorney Timothy Alexander Gordon Andison.

The case is styled ‘In the Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a, with case no. PM-215-22.

According to the Memorandum and Order on Motion, Andison was suspended by the May 2019 order of the Court for conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice arising from his failure to comply with the attorney registration requirements. Andison sought reinstatement after curing his registration delinquencies in May 2022 and requested a waiver of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) requirement. The Attorney Grievance Committee, although identified various deficiencies, opposed no objection to Lawson’s reinstatement, but rather deferred discretion to the Court.

The Memorandum and Order on Motion read: 

“Here, respondent’s affidavit and accompanying exhibits demonstrate that he is current with his continuing legal education requirements in Toronto, Canada, including in the area of “professional matters.” This, combined with New York’s attorney registration requirement – a delinquency which he has now cured – and his lack of disciplinary history in other jurisdictions, provides adequate assurances to us that additional MPRE testing would be unnecessary.”

The Memorandum and Order continue:

“Turning to respondent’s character and fitness and the public’s interest in his reinstatement, respondent is in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, the only other jurisdiction where heavers that he is admitted to practice. He has no disciplinary history with the Law Society of Ontario or in this state, outside of the instant suspension. His submitted materials, combined with the nature of the misconduct giving rise to his suspension, demonstrate that he possesses the requisite character and fitness for the practice of law and it would be in the public’s best interest to reinstate him.”

Accordingly, the Court ruled in favor of Andison and granted his application for reinstatement, and reinstated him as an attorney and counselor-at-law in the State of New York, effective immediately.

As of today, Mr. Andison practices in Toronto, Canada. He has been admitted to the New York Bar in 2001, license no. 3975703.

A copy of the order of reinstatement can be found here.