James Battin, a longtime London-area lawyer, has been disbarred and ordered to pay nearly $45,000 to the Law Society of Ontario for professional misconduct. The tribunal found he circumvented Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) billing rules, privately billed an LAO client, and misappropriated nearly $12,000 from a client's trust fund. Battin had also recently represented former Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch.
Longtime London-area lawyer disbarred, ordered to pay nearly $45K to law society
DisbarmentLaoLawyer licenceLicence revokedLicence to practiceLsoLondonOntarioTillsonburgLaw Society of OntarioLaw Society of Ontario TribunalLegal Aid OntarioJames BattinMayor Trevor BirtchSentencingTrialsLegalLaws
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️James Battin, a longtime London-area lawyer, has been disbarred and ordered to pay nearly $45,000 to the Law Society of Ontario for professional misconduct. The tribunal found he circumvented Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) billing rules, privately billed an LAO client, and misappropriated nearly $12,000 from a client's trust fund. Battin had also recently represented former Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch.
Trending- 1 1980: James Battin called to the bar.
- 2 1992: James Battin served as deputy judge of the Ontario Small Claims Court.
- 3 April 2019: Client's matrimonial dispute settled in court.
- 4 November 2019: LAO ordered Battin to return the money.
- 5 Dec. 13, 2024: Law Society of Ontario tribunal issued a decision.
- 6 May 5: Court heard Battin was absent from Trevor Birtch's court appearance.
- 7 May 15, 2025: Law Society of Ontario tribunal issued another decision, leading to disbarment.
- 8 Earlier this year: All misappropriated money was returned.
- 9 Aug. 15: Sentencing submissions for Trevor Birtch adjourned to.
- Battin's law licence revoked
- Financial penalty
- Damage to his professional reputation
- Potential impact on his role as deputy judge, and on his client's case (Trevor Birtch)
What: London-area lawyer James Battin was disbarred and ordered to pay nearly $45,000 to the Law Society of Ontario for professional misconduct.
When: Dec. 13, 2024 (first tribunal decision), May 15, 2025 (second tribunal decision), April 2019 (client's dispute settled), November 2019 (LAO ordered Battin to return money), Earlier this year (all money returned), May 5 (court appearance for Birtch), Aug. 15 (Birtch's sentencing submissions adjourned to).
Where: London area, Ontario, Tillsonburg (Battin's practice), Woodstock (former Mayor Trevor Birtch).
Why: Battin engaged in professional misconduct, showing a "lack of integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness" by violating rules, undertakings, and fiduciary obligations for personal gain, to the detriment of a vulnerable client.
How: Battin circumvented Legal Aid Ontario's billing requirements, privately billed an LAO client despite prohibitions, and unilaterally took funds from a client's trust account without declaring them to LAO or the settlement.