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Further allegations of offensive and abusive conduct have been levelled against a solicitor who will soon face strike-off proceedings for calling another practitioner a “pathetic human”.
George Sideris allegedly sent texts and emails of an “offensive, abusive, harassing and/or threatening nature” after an unnamed company terminated a services agreement with his firm, GSA Lawyers.
According to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), Sideris allegedly breached an undertaking to not contact or threaten the company or an employee regarding the terminated agreement.
It was alleged both charges amounted to professional misconduct.
Over the last two months, the NSW Law Society applied to have the disciplinary proceedings relating to these allegations stayed pending the outcome of a roll removal proceeding in the Court of Appeal.
The latter proceedings concern “discourteous” conduct sent by Sideris to an opposing solicitor at Mills Oakley and a claim The Salvation Army was attempting to “torture” his elderly mother-in-law.
In one email sent to The Salvation Army, Sideris said: “In short I could say f--k off but I am too much of a gentleman.”
In August 2024 penalty proceedings, Sideris accused the Law Society of “stupidity” and made a threat he would take things to the “nth [sic] degree” if they did not stop pursuing disciplinary action.
In another email, he said: “F--k off the lot of you, you bunch of idiots” and then, “let me be a little nicer – F--K OFF”. Others started with “better yet” or “so simply put” above a picture of a middle finger.
In its stay application, the Law Society said it was likely the roll removal proceedings would receive a final hearing date in late April and hopes the matter will be set down in June or July this year.
It submitted that the stay would avoid any “potential prejudice” against Sideris, given he would otherwise have to defend two sets of proceedings.
NCAT president Justice Lea Armstrong agreed and added that this was not a case where there was significant overlap that might mean both disciplinary proceedings could continue concurrently.
The disciplinary application with fresh charges has been stayed pending the outcome of the roll removal proceedings.
The case is Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Sideris [2025] NSWCATOD 26 (11 March 2025).
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
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