Matter of Scharf
2021 NY Slip Op 01126 [193 AD3d 118]
February 18, 2021
Per Curiam
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, April 14, 2021


[*1]
In the Matter of Leslie H. Scharf (Admitted as Leslie Harris Scharf), an Attorney, Respondent. Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department, Petitioner.

First Department, February, 18, 2021

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL

Jorge Dopico, Chief Attorney, Attorney Grievance Committee, New York City (Raymond Vallejo of counsel), for petitioner.

Victor J. Rocco, for respondent.

{**193 AD3d at 119} OPINION OF THE COURT
Per Curiam.

Respondent Leslie H. Scharf was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the Second Judicial Department on January 26, 1994, under the name Leslie Harris Scharf. At all times relevant to this proceeding, respondent maintained his principal place of business within the First Judicial Department.

On September 3, 2020, respondent entered a plea of guilty in Supreme Court, New York County, to grand larceny in the first degree (Penal Law § 155.42), a class B felony. During the plea proceeding respondent admitted that, between 2006 and 2019, he was employed as general counsel and senior vice president of Ellison Systems, Inc., doing business as Shoplet, and between May 26, 2013, and July 22, 2019, without permission or authority to do so, he transferred in excess of $5.9 million from Shoplet's PayPal accounts to PayPal accounts in his own name, using those funds for personal purposes.

On October 8, 2020, respondent was sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of 3 to 9 years. Respondent provided restitution in the amount of approximately $1.45 to $1.5 million, and there is a civil judgment against him for $6.8 million.

The Attorney Grievance Committee now seeks an order striking respondent's name from the roll of attorneys, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (a) and (b), and Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) § 1240.12 (c) (1), on the ground that he was convicted of a felony as defined by Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (e), and has therefore been automatically disbarred. Respondent's counsel was served with this motion but has not submitted a response.

The Committee correctly asserts that respondent's conviction of the New York felony of grand larceny in the first degree is a basis for automatic disbarment pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (a), which provides: "[a]ny person being an attorney and counsellor-at-law who shall be convicted of a felony as defined in paragraph (e) of this subdivision, shall upon such conviction, cease to be an attorney and counsellor-at-law, or to be competent to practice law as such." Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (e) sets forth, in pertinent part, "[f]or purposes of this subdivision, the term felony shall mean any criminal offense classified as a felony under the laws of this state." Upon such conviction, "there may be presented to the appellate division of the{**193 AD3d at 120} supreme court a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment of such conviction, and thereupon the name of the person so convicted shall, by order of the court, be struck from the roll of attorneys" (Judiciary Law § 90 [4] [b]).

Accordingly, as respondent's conviction of grand larceny in the first degree constitutes grounds for disbarment, we grant the Committee's motion and strike his name from the rolls pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (b) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12 (c) (1), nunc pro tunc to September 3, 2020 (see Matter of Ogihara, 121 AD3d [*2]47 [1st Dept 2014]; Matter of Arntsen, 106 AD3d 17 [1st Dept 2013]).

Acosta, P.J., Kern, Oing, Mendez and Shulman, JJ., concur.

It is ordered that the motion of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department is granted, and pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90 (4) (b) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12 (c) (1), respondent Leslie H. Scharf, admitted as Leslie Harris Scharf, is disbarred, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, effective nunc pro tunc to September 3, 2020, and

It is further ordered that respondent Leslie H. Scharf, admitted as Leslie Harris Scharf, is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form, either as principal or agent, clerk or employee of another; that respondent is forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board or commission or other public authority; that respondent is forbidden to give another opinion as to the law or its application or advice in relation thereto, and

It is further ordered that respondent Leslie H. Scharf, admitted as Leslie Harris Scharf, is directed to fully comply with the provisions of the Court's rules governing the conduct of disbarred or suspended attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 1240.15), which is made a part hereof, and

It is further ordered that if respondent Leslie H. Scharf, admitted as Leslie Harris Scharf, has been issued a secure pass by the Office of Court Administration, it shall be returned forthwith to the issuing agency and the respondent shall certify to the same in his affidavit of compliance pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.15 (f).