Matter of Hawthorne

OPINION OF THE COURT

Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the First Judicial Department on June 20, 1994 under the name Keith Andrew Hawthorne. At all times relevant to this proceeding, respondent maintained an office for the practice of law within the First Department.

In January 2012, the Departmental Disciplinary Committee received the first of four complaints from persons for whom respondent had obtained settlements but failed to disburse some or all of the amounts due to the clients. In the first such matter, respondent received a check for $120,000 in…