Law360 Canada ( January 6, 2025, 9:17 AM EST) -- Appeal by appellant from the Law Society of Alberta's ("LSA") decision which found him guilty of conduct deserving sanction on four citations and imposed disbarment and a $120,000 costs order. The appellant’s firm operated as a sole proprietorship in Edmonton. He disclosed a $180,000 deficiency in his firm's pooled trust account to the LSA and attributed it to his conduct. An investigation revealed multiple instances of misappropriation of funds, breaches of accounting rules, and failure to act with integrity. The LSA issued 12 citations against Beaver, of which he admitted guilt on three and was found guilty on four others. The misappropriations included funds from clients, a vulnerable client under a power of attorney, and proceeds from a real estate transaction. The hearing committee concluded that the appellant had misappropriated over $300,000 from clients both within and outside of the firm's trust accounts, contravened the LSA's accounting rules and failed to act with integrity. The appellant appealed the findings of guilt on two citations and the sanction imposed. He argued that the hearing committee made unreasonable findings of fact, misapprehended evidence, and violated procedural fairness. He contended that his disbarment was excessive, given his unblemished 20-year career and mitigating factors such as personal stress, depression, and alcoholism. He requested a three-year suspension instead of disbarment and a reduction in the costs award to 50 per cent. The LSA maintained that the findings of guilt and the sanction were appropriate, given the severity and extent of the appellant's misconduct and argued that the hearing committee's decision was reasonable and supported by evidence....