Daniel Lak

November 15, 2015

DANIEL KRISTOF LAK [#216983], 48, of Irvine, was disbarred Nov. 15, 2015 and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and make restitution.

December 25, 2014

DANIEL KRISTOF LAK [#216983], 48, of Irvine, was suspended from the practice of law for two years and until he shows proof of his rehabilitation. In addition, he was ordered to take the MPRE and comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. He was also placed on four years’ probation and faces a three-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect Dec. 25, 2014. The State Bar Court found Lak culpable of eight counts of misconduct in three client matters including failing to perform legal services with competence, failing to inform a client of significant developments, moral turpitude/misrepresentation, failing to render accounts of client funds, practicing law while suspended, misusing a client trust account, failing to maintain respect for the court and seeking to mislead a judge. In one of the matters in which Lak engaged in misconduct, he was hired to represent a client in his divorce matter. Although the client was initially happy with Lak, on August 2012 Lak learned that judgment documents he filed contained errors and that the court had rejected them, but he did not tell the client. He also stopped updating the client on the status of his case. After client learned from his ex-wife that the documents had been rejected, he contacted Lak who assured him that they had been refiled, which was not true. After Lak failed to send him a copy of the refiled documents, the client went to the courthouse where he discovered the truth. Lak assured the client again that he would refile the documents but again did not, leading the client to fire him on Oct. 5. Lak did not respond and did not sign the client’s substitution of attorney form even though he was asked repeatedly to do so. After the client convinced a judge to remove Lak from the case, the client asked for an accounting but Lak did not respond. When he finally sent the final billing statement, he used his legal letterhead which gave the appearance he was entitled to practice law when he wasn’t. At the time, he was suspended for not complying with his child support requirements. In addition, between Dec. 5, 2012 and March 12, 2013, Lak issued multiple paper and electronic checks from his client trust account to pay his personal expenses. In another matter, Lak withheld from the court that he would be unable to appear at trial because of a disciplinary suspension. The morning of trial, Lak called the judge claiming he had a family emergency. As a result, the judge continued the matter, but when Lak did not show up for that date, a mistrial was declared. Lak had one prior record of discipline, a 2013 suspension for commingling funds in his client trust account and paying personal and business expenses from that account. He also committed acts involving moral turpitude by repeatedly issuing checks with insufficient funds from his client trust account.

June 30, 2013

DANIEL KRISTOF LAK [#216983], 46, of Irvine, was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on three years’ probation with an actual 60-day suspension and ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect June 30, 2013.