Olekanma Ekekwe-Kauffman

DCCA Opinion (January 27, 2022)

Summary: The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred Ekekwe-Kauffman for reckless misappropriation. This matter arises out of two separate representations. In the first matter, Ekekwe-Kauffman agreed to advise a client as to whether to file bankruptcy, accepted payment, and obtained relevant documents from the client, but Ekekwe-Kauffman failed to provide the requested advice or to meaningfully communicate with the client. After the client terminated the representation and requested a refund, Ekekwe-Kauffman delayed in refunding the unearned fees and in returning the client’s documents. In addition, Ekekwe-Kauffman made recklessly false statements in response to Disciplinary Counsel’s investigative inquiries. In the second matter, Ekekwe-Kauffman engaged in reckless misappropriation in her handling of the funds she received in settlement of four different cases, indiscriminately commingled funds, and failed to maintain the required records. (Rules 1.4(a), 1.15(a), 1.16(d), 8.1(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).)

Board Report and Orders (December 20, 2019)

Summary: In re Olekanma A. Ekekwe-Kauffman. Bar No. 479967. December 20, 2019. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Ekekwe-Kauffman for reckless misappropriation. This matter arises out of two separate representations. In the first matter, Ekekwe-Kauffman agreed to advise a client as to whether to file for bankruptcy, accepted payment from the client, obtained relevant documents from the client, but failed to provide the requested advice or meaningfully communicate with the client. After the client terminated the representation and requested a refund, Ekekwe-Kauffman delayed in refunding the unearned fees and in returning the client’s documents. In addition, Ekekwe-Kauffman made recklessly false statements in response to Disciplinary Counsel’s investigative inquiries. In the second matter, Ekekwe-Kauffman engaged in reckless misappropriation in her handling of the funds she received in settlement of four different cases, indiscriminately commingled funds, and failed to maintain the required records. Rules 1.4(a), 1.15(a), 1.16(d), 8.1(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).

Hearing Committee Report (June 20, 2019)

Summary: Not yet available.