Law Society of BC fails to disbar lawyer Hong Guo following review
In addition to facilitating a conflict of interest between clients, Guo was found to have provided legal services while having a direct or indirect financial interest.
“By listing her husband as an employee, having herself and [Guo’s sister] as signing officers and directors without any apparent authorizations or agency agreements, by using the joint account and personal accounts to transfer funds and make ‘loans’ while funds were transferred in China (for which records still have to be produced), by leasing property apparently owned by [Guo] to the corporations, by having employees in common and on the payroll between the client companies and [Guo Law Corp.]., and by, to all appearances, personally running the business but having no documentation suggesting that she was doing so as agent, [Guo] clearly involved herself, her firm, and her family members in the running and financing of her clients’ operations, contrary to the requirements” of society regulations,” stated the ruling’s list of misconduct.
Guo’s testimony was deemed to be “frequently contradictory” and she could not explain why documents and files either did not exist, or had not been produced to the society investigators — a matter the panel found “troubling.”
Guo asserted that “Chinese business isn’t done that way,” which led the panel to “cast doubt on her version of events,” according to the ruling.
Penalties against Guo will be applied at a future discipline hearing.
Guo previously engaged in high-profile public events
Analysis from the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in B.C. showed Guo as representing Paul King Jin in real estate transactions. Jin is being pursued by the B.C. director of civil forfeiture for assets alleged to be proceeds of crime.
Guo faces a one-year suspension for the loss of the $7.5 million from her trust account, she deemed to be stolen by her bookkeeper. The society has appealed the decision by panellists Jennifer Chow QC, Ralston Alexander QC and John Lane, public representative.
Guo ran for mayor of Richmond in October 2018, claiming the city needed to reduce crime rates and improve traffic while also promoting more cultural ties and trade with China. She received 5% of the vote.
During her campaign she reportedly denied China has a record of human-rights violations. In 2019, she spoke out against the Canadian government’s detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.
Last year Guo helped organize anti-Asian racism rallies in Vancouver via the Asian Canadian Equity Alliance.
