Supreme Court

In the Matter of James S. Lawrence. : SU-2023-025-M.P.

O R D E R

On January 20, 2023, this Court’s Disciplinary Counsel (“Counsel”) filed a 

Petition pursuant to Article III, Rule 6(e) of the Supreme Court Rules of Disciplinary 

Procedure requesting that the Court order the respondent, James S. Lawrence, a 

member of the Rhode Island bar, to file an answer to a pending disciplinary 

complaint. 

On February 14, 2023, the Court entered an Order reprimanding the 

respondent for his failure to answer that complaint and directed him to file an answer 

within ten (10) days or his license would be indefinitely suspended without further 

notice. 

On February 27, 2023, three days after the February 24, 2023 deadline set in 

the Order, the respondent faxed a purported answer to the complaint that failed to 

address any of the substantive allegations in the complaint and also falsely indicated 

that he had delivered the case file at issue to successor counsel. Counsel’s inquiry 

into the delivery of the file proved that respondent had not delivered the file as 

claimed.
On March 1, 2023, Counsel wrote to the respondent to explain that his answer 

was non-responsive and thereby insufficient, and that contrary to his representation 

about transmitting the file, successor counsel had not received the file he claimed to 

have sent. This letter also gave respondent until March 10, 2023 to transfer the file 

and provide a substantive response to the disciplinary complaint. To date Counsel 

received no further response from respondent.

On March 13, 2023, successor counsel provided an affidavit that she had not 

received the file.

On March 23, 2023, Counsel brought this matter back before the Court, 

seeking the imposition of an indefinite suspension for respondent’s lack of 

explanation and misrepresentation to the Court. Counsel also requested the 

appointment of a Special Master to take control of respondent’s active case files and 

bank accounts related to his practice of law.

Accordingly, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the respondent, James 

S. Lawrence, is hereby suspended from the practice of law in this state, effective 

immediately and until further order of this Court. 

It is further ordered that Matthew Callaghan, Esq., be appointed as Special 

Master to take possession of and inventory the respondent’s client files and accounts, 

and take whatever steps necessary to protect the client’s interests; including, but not 

limited to, returning files to the clients or new counsel of each clients’ choice. The 
Special Master is hereby authorized to have full access to respondent’s client files, 

accounts, and offices and is further empowered to enter upon the respondent’s 

offices in order to effectuate this Order. 

Regarding the respondent’s banking accounts, the Special Master is given sole 

and exclusive access to the following accounts heretofore controlled by respondent, 

either solely or jointly: business and operating accounts; trust accounts, including 

special trust accounts; clients’ accounts; estate accounts; and, any and all other 

accounts related to respondent’s law practice that he uses presently or has in the past 

utilized for the deposit and maintenance of fiduciary and/or clients’ funds and fee 

advances. The foregoing list of accounts shall also include any accounts where the 

respondent serves as an agent, special agent, trustee, personal representative,

executor, power of attorney, or custodian. The Special Master shall have sole control 

over these above-described accounts, to the exclusion of respondent, until further 

order of this Court. By this Order, the Court prohibits respondent or any of his agents 

from withdrawing or transferring funds from the aforementioned accounts.

The Court also hereby orders respondent to fully cooperate with the Special 

Master to assist him and his agents in effectuating his duties and directs that any lack 

of cooperation on respondent’s behalf be reported to this Court for further action.
Entered as an Order of this Court this 20th Day of April 2023. 

 By Order,

 /s/ Debra A. Saunders 

Clerk

 

 
SU-CMS-02B (revised November 2022)

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE

Licht Judicial Complex

250 Benefit Street

Providence, RI 02903

ORDER COVER SHEET

Title of Case In the Matter of James S. Lawrence.

Case Number SU-2023-025-M.P.

Date Order Filed April 20, 2023

Justices Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and 

Long, JJ.

Source of Appeal N/A

Judicial Officer from Lower Court N/A

Attorney(s) on Appeal

For Petitioner:

Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq.

Chief Disciplinary Counsel

For Respondent: 

James S. Lawrence, pro se