News In Brief

An attorney convicted of defrauding an investor of $300,000 saw his sanction upped yesterday from a five-year suspension to disbarment by the Appellate Division, First Department. A Manhattan federal jury in 2005 convicted George Balis, the former chairman and CEO of marketing company Millennium Direct Inc., of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. A hearing panel before the First Department’s disciplinary committee determined in April that Mr. Balis’ actions warranted a five-year suspension, retroactive to June 2006.

But yesterday, the First Department said Mr. Balis should be disbarred. In an unsigned decision, the court noted that in the past it has automatically disbarred lawyers convicted of securities fraud and imposed suspensions only in instances where the conduct was less serious and involved “significant” mediation by the lawyer. The court said Mr. Balis’ conduct was “much more reprehensible” than that of lawyers who were only suspended following securities fraud and his “complete failure to assume responsibility for his actions” warranted immediate disbarment. Mr. Balis’ lawyer, Hal Lieberman at Hinshaw & Culbertson, did not respond to a request for comment. Matter of Balis appears on page 11 of the print edition of today’s Law Journal. - Nate Raymond

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