The struck off, debt-ridden former lawyer fails to make a security of costs payment.

Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias, Sir Robert Jones, bankrupt property developer Terry Serepisos, struck off lawyer Barry Hart, former All Black Bernie Fraser and his daughter entertainer Brooke Fraser were among the mourners at Greg King's funeral today, plus a strong police presence. UPDATED

There's a new trend out there in lawyer land: lawyers writing to all and sundry threatening action, and demanding that those to whom they write pay the lawyer's bill.

NBR got a letter like that a few weeks ago, from none other than the eminent Gary Gotlieb. Mr Gotlieb, it seems, had been contacted by someone who was not happy with what he read about himself in NBR and on our web site.

A Christchurch lawyer who was suspended over a botched adoption case has failed in her bid to be allowed to start practising again.

Susan Barbara Lewis, a 54-year-old family law specialist, was suspended for three years for incompetence in March by the Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal after an adoption she was involved with saw a child sent to Australia without the father being consulted.