[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Speights , 2018-Ohio-4236.]

D ISCIPLINARY C OUNSEL v . S PEIGHTS . [Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Speights , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2018-Ohio-4236.] (No. 2018-1287

— Submitted October 18, 2018

— Decided October 22, 2018.)
O N C ERTIFIED O RDER of District of Columbia Court of Appeals,
No. 17-BG-1091

__________________ {¶ 1} This cause is pending before the Supreme Court of Ohio in accordance with the reciprocal-discip line provisions of Gov.Bar R. V(20). {¶ 2} On September 12, 2018, relator, discip linary counsel, filed with this court a certified copy of an order of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals entered July 26, 2018, in In re Nathaniel H. Speights , case No. 17-BG-1091, suspending respondent from the practice of law for two years and requiring him to prove fitness before reinstatement. On September 14, 2018, th is court ordered respondent to show cause why identical or comparable discipline should not be imposed in this state. No objections were filed, and this cause was considered by
the court. {¶ 3} On consideration thereof, it is or dered and adjudged by this court that, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(20)(B), respondent, Nathaniel Henry Speights, Attorney Registration No. 0016747, last known business address in Washington, District of Columbia, is suspended from the practice of law for two years. It is further ordered that respondent will not be reinstated to the practice of law in Ohio until such time as respondent is reinstated to the practice of law in the District of
Columbia. {¶ 4} It is further ordered that res pondent immediately cease and desist from the practice of law in any form and is forbidden to appear on behalf of anotherS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 before any court, judge, commission, boar d, administrative agency, or other public authority. {¶ 5} It is further ordered that respondent is forbidden to counsel, advise, or prepare legal instruments for others or in any manner perform legal services for
others. {¶ 6} It is further ordered that respondent is divested of each, any, and all of the rights, privileges, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in good standing of the legal profession of Ohio. {¶ 7} It is further ordered that before entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with any attorn ey or law firm, respondent shall verify that the attorney or law firm has complied with the registration requirements of Gov.Bar R. V(23)(C). If employed pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(23), respondent shall refrain from direct client contact except as provided in Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise handling any client trust funds or property. {¶ 8} It is further ordered that pursuan t to Gov.Bar R. X(13), respondent shall complete one credit hour of continuing legal e ducation for each month, or portion of a month, of the suspension. As pa rt of the total credit hours of continuing legal education required by Gov.Bar R. X( 13), respondent shall complete one credit
hour of instruction related to professional conduct require d by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(B) for each six months, or portion of six months, of the suspension. {¶ 9} It is further ordered by the court th at within 90 days of the date of this order, respondent sha ll reimburse any amounts that have been awarded against respondent by the Lawyers’ Fund for Clie nt Protection pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered by the cour t that if after the date of this order, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards any amount against respondent pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F), responde nt shall reimburse that amount to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection within 90 days of the notice of that award.January Term, 2018



### 3 {¶ 10} It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated to the practice of law in Ohio until (1) responde nt complies with the requirements for reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (3) respondent files ev idence with the clerk of this court and with disciplinary counsel demonstrating his reinstatement to the practice of law in the District of Columbia, (4) respondent complies with this a nd all other orders issued by this court, and (5) this court orders respondent reinstated. {¶ 11} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date of this order, respondent shall do the following: {¶ 12} 1. Notify all clients being repres ented in pending matters and any co-counsel of respondent's suspension and c onsequent disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this or der and, in the absence of co-counsel, also notify the clients to seek legal services elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency in seeking the substitution of anothe r attorney in respondent’s place; {¶ 13} 2. Regardless of any fees or expens es due, deliver to all clients being represented in pending matters any papers or other property pertaining to the client or notify the clients or co-counsel, if an y, of a suitable time and place where the papers or other property may be obtained, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining such papers or other property; {¶ 14} 3. Refund any part of any fees or expenses paid in advance that are unearned or not paid, and account for any tr ust money or property in the possession or control of respondent; {¶ 15} 4. Notify opposing counsel or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties in pending litigation of respondent’s disqualification to act as an attorney
after the effective date of this order and file a notice of disqualification of respondent with the court or agency be fore which the litigation is pending for inclusion in the respective file or files;S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 {¶ 16} 5. Send all notices required by this order by certified mail with a return address where communications may th ereafter be directed to respondent; {¶ 17} 6. File with the clerk of this c ourt and the disciplinary counsel of the Supreme Court an affidavit showing co mpliance with this order, showing proof of service of notices required herein, and setting forth the address where the affiant may receive communications; and {¶ 18} 7. Retain and maintain a record of the various steps taken by respondent pursuant to this order. {¶ 19} It is further ordered that until su ch time as respondent fully complies with this order, respondent shall keep th e clerk and disciplinary counsel advised of any change of address where respondent may receive communications. {¶ 20} It is further ordered that all documents filed with this court in this case shall meet the filing requirements set forth in the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, including requireme nts as to form, number, and timeliness of filings. All case documents are subject to Sup.R. 44 through 47, which govern
access to court records. {¶ 21} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on respondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, to respondent’s last known
address. {¶ 22} It is further ordered that the clerk of this court issue certified copies of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(D)(1) and that publication be made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(D)(2).
O’C ONNOR , C.J., and O’D ONNELL , K ENNEDY , F RENCH , F ISCHER , D E W INE , and D E G ENARO , JJ., concur.

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