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Karim Hamir (WSBA No. 34296, admitted 2003), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was suspended from the practice of law for six months, effective September 18, 2006, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following a stipulation. This discipline was based on conduct in 2004 involving misrepresentations to potential employers and false and misleading statements in advertising materials.
In 2004, Mr. Hamir was seeking employment as a lawyer in the Seattle area. In e-mails sent to two unaffiliated solo practitioners, Mr. Hamir provided information regarding his background and credentials. This information included copies of his résumé, in which he represented that he had graduated from “Michigan Law,” implying that he had attended the University of Michigan Law School. Mr. Hamir’s résumé also represented that he had graduated “with honors,” was in the “top five percent” of his law school class, and had been “Law Review Chief Editor.” In fact, Mr. Hamir had attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, held a class rank of 142 out of 189, graduated from law school with no academic honors, and was not selected for the Law Review. Mr. Hamir also represented that he had obtained a “B.A. Honours Business Administration” degree from York University and that he had graduated from York with a grade point average of 3.96 out of 4.00. In fact, he had obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at York University and had been an average student.
In an e-mail message to one potential employer in June 2004, and in marketing materials he later disseminated to the public, Mr. Hamir represented that he was licensed to practice law in Canada “through the Upper Law Society of Canada.” In fact, Mr. Hamir was not licensed to practice law in Canada through any attorney-licensing entity.
In 2005, Mr. Hamir entered into a partnership with another Washington lawyer for the purposes of practicing law. In advertising materials and on the firm’s public website, Mr. Hamir represented that he had received a “Bachelor’s of Business Administration from New York University, summa cum laude” and had also obtained a Master’s degree. In truth, Mr. Hamir had never attended New York University, had not obtained a degree in business administration, never graduated with the academic distinction of summa cum laude, and never obtained a Master’s degree from any educational institution.
Mr. Hamir’s conduct violated RPC 7.1(a), prohibiting a lawyer from making a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services; and RPC 8.4(c), prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Kevin M. Bank represented the Bar Association. Kenneth S. Kagan represented Mr. Hamir. |