Lawyer Robert Pineo reprimanded by N.S. Barristers Society

Lawyer Robert Pineo has consented to a reprimand by the Nova Scotia Barristers Society.

The ruling is related to billing he submitted in 2020 to the firm Patterson Law, at which he is a partner.

An invoice was never billed to a client but, due to the nature of pay structure at the law firm, would have resulted in him being paid more by the firm that year.

The barristers society notice of reprimand does not contain details on what the hours billed were for, or how much Pineo would have profited from them.

“The (chief operating officer) of Patterson Law attempted to follow up with Mr. Pineo on seven occasions through 2021, questioning him about the status of his outstanding accounts receivable, including the invoice,” reads the notice from the society.

“In August 2021, Mr. Pineo finally disclosed to his partners that the invoice had been issued inappropriately and confirmed that he was facing personal health difficulties.”

The money was repaid to the firm.

The notice of reprimand notes that Pineo helped participate in the disciplinary process, acknowledged that “his actions constitute a lack of integrity and serious lapse in judgement” and consented to a reprimand.

Contacted by The Chronicle Herald, Pineo said it would be inappropriate for him to offer comment.
He also said he is “retiring from the practice of law at the end of this year for reasons unrelated to the reprimand.”

Pineo became a household name through 2021 and 2022 as the representative of a group of the victims’ families at the Mass Casualty Commission.