4/17/2008 N.Y.L.J. 25, (col. 5)

In the Matter of Kristan Peters
U.S. - SDNY

Judge Rakoff

RESPONDENT, a former partner at law firm Dorsey & Whitney, was sanctioned for misconduct arising from her actions as counsel to Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Inc. during its trade secrets action against Scivantage. Among the charges of misconduct was respondent's long delay in returning deposition transcripts to court custody and her alleged instruction to a junior associate that he 'scribble all over' unmarked transcripts so they could be called attorney work-product and not have to be returned. In an unusual opinion by the judge chairing the Southern District of New York's grievance committee, respondent was suspended from practice in the district pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings. The judge found the suspension warranted because of the 'nature and seriousness of the charges against [respondent], the strength of the record supporting those charges, and the danger of recurrence as demonstrated by respondent's lack of appreciation of the wrongfulness of her misconduct.'