Paul Wynell-Sutherland
Case Information & Details
Paul Wynell-Sutherland, a barrister called to the Bar in October 2000, has been disbarred following a series of motoring offences and professional misconduct. An independent disciplinary tribunal, which concluded on June 12, 2026, found five charges of professional misconduct proven against him, leading to his disbarment. The tribunal's findings are subject to appeal.
Key facts and dates of his legal proceedings include:
- June 2019: Wynell-Sutherland drove a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol exceeding the legal limit (116 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the 35 microgrammes limit) and failed to stop when instructed by a police constable.
- July 2019: He was convicted of these offences.
- Failure to Report (2019 conviction): Wynell-Sutherland failed to promptly report this conviction to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which only became aware of it four years later.
- March and May 2023: In separate incidents, he drove a motor vehicle while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence. He was also suspected of driving while unfit through drink and, when required to provide a breath test, refused without reasonable excuse.
- February 2024: He was convicted of the offences from March and May 2023.
- Failure to Report (2024 convictions): He again failed to promptly report these convictions to the BSB.
- June 12, 2026: The independent disciplinary tribunal ordered his disbarment, finding that his conduct diminished public trust and confidence in the legal profession.
The tribunal emphasized that the "multiplicity of these offences and the serious nature of them" meant Mr. Wynell-Sutherland had "fallen very much below the standard required of a barrister." He admitted diminishing public trust in the profession through his motoring convictions and his failure to report them to the BSB. The BSB stated that barristers are expected not to break the law and have an obligation to inform their regulator of criminal convictions, which Wynell-Sutherland repeatedly failed to do.