Edmonton Lawyer Expelled for Sending Client's Explicit Video to Prospective Employee
The Law Society of Alberta has permanently disbarred Edmonton attorney Gurpreet Gill following a disturbing pattern of professional misconduct that included sexually harassing two women and interfering with a regulatory investigation. The veteran lawyer, who became licensed in Alberta in 2009 after emigrating from India, was found guilty on six separate counts of ethical violations that culminated in his expulsion from the legal profession last month.
Pattern of Abuse and Deception
A disciplinary panel determined that Gill's actions represented a systematic abuse of professional power that extended across multiple domains of legal practice. "Viewed together, this pattern reflects abuse of professional power, breach of core fiduciary and confidentiality duties, and obstructive dishonesty aimed at evading regulatory scrutiny," the panel wrote in their decision. They emphasized that "the conduct was not inadvertent or isolated" but rather "repeated across multiple domains of professional obligation and extended over time."
The panel concluded that no punishment short of complete disbarment could adequately address the severity and persistence of Gill's wrongdoing. His legal practice, which had focused on immigration, criminal, family law and real estate matters while employing up to ten people, has been inactive since 2021.
Explicit Videos Sent During Job Interview Process
The case originated in December 2020 when Gill interviewed a woman for a criminal law assistant position. During the hiring process, Gill made inappropriate inquiries about the applicant's relationship plans and requested personal photographs. Following a second interview, he sent the woman two explicit videos depicting people engaged in sexual activity, accompanied by an RCMP letter addressed to one of his clients.
Gill claimed the videos were intended to assess the applicant's "maturity level" regarding material she might encounter while working on criminal cases. However, the woman testified she was "shocked and taken aback" by receiving unsolicited sexually explicit content without any prior warning. She also expressed concern that the RCMP letter was meant to intimidate her about her residency status in Canada, prompting her to message Gill requesting no further contact.
Breach of Client Confidentiality and Investigation Interference
Gill admitted that he obtained the explicit videos from a client who had retained him for a sexual assault case. The client had provided Gill with videos showing consensual sexual activity between himself and his girlfriend. Despite this confidential relationship, Gill acknowledged he never obtained consent from either party before sharing the intimate material.
When Law Society investigators approached Gill's client about the unauthorized disclosure, Gill compounded his ethical violations by impersonating the client. He falsely claimed that the client had authorized him to share the explicit videos, attempting to obstruct the regulatory investigation into his misconduct.
Broader Context of Professional Misconduct
The disbarment represents the culmination of a career marked by ethical breaches that violated fundamental principles of client confidentiality and professional conduct. Gill's actions demonstrate how abuse of professional authority can manifest across multiple practice areas, from employment relationships to client representation.
The Law Society's decisive action underscores the legal profession's commitment to maintaining rigorous ethical standards and protecting both clients and the public from attorneys who exploit their positions of trust. The case serves as a stark reminder that violations of core fiduciary duties, particularly those involving sexual harassment and dishonesty toward regulatory bodies, will result in the most severe professional consequences available under Alberta's legal framework.
