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Cheng Wang (WSBA No. 27218, admitted 1997), formerly of Seattle, received a censure following a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board on May 8, 2002. This discipline is based upon his practicing law in 2000 while his license was suspended.
Mr. Wang’s license to practice law in Washington was suspended on June 7, 2000. On that same day, the Supreme Court mailed Mr. Wang notice of the suspension. Mr. Wang indicated that he did not receive this notice or the previous notices regarding his suspension. He stated that he first learned of his license suspension in April 2001 when he contacted the WSBA regarding admission to the Massachusetts Bar. On May 4, the WSBA notified Mr. Wang of the necessary steps to reinstate his license. He completed those steps and was reinstated to inactive status on July 13, 2001. While completing an application to change to active status, Mr. Wang disclosed that he may have practiced law during his suspension, when he was employed as an associate in Seattle, New York and Massachusetts. Mr. Wang had not notified the WSBA of his address changes. As of October 2001, Mr. Wang was working in Shanghai, China.
Mr. Wang’s conduct violated RPC 5.5(a), prohibiting lawyers from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law; and RLD 8.2(a), requiring lawyers to discontinue practice upon suspension of their license to practice.
Douglas Ende represented the Bar Association. Mr. Wang represented himself.
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