April 19, 2023 – On March 29, 2023, Amoun Vang Sayaovong filed a petition to reinstate his Wisconsin law license. The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) will investigate the eligibility of the Sayaovong for reinstatement of his license andassigned OLR Matter No. 2023MA317 to its investigation.
On March 18, 2015, Sayaovong’s law license was suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceedings. The suspension was based on Sayaovong’s misconduct relating to two client matters and included failing to timely pursue a matter on behalf of the clients; failing to keep clients informed of the status of a matter and failing to respond to clients’ attempts to communicate with him; failing to timely notify clients of the receipt of funds belonging to the clients and failing to provide the clients with an accounting of the funds received on their behalf; practicing law while his license was suspended for failing to pay mandatory bar dues, and failing to cooperate with the OLR’s investigations of the grievances filed against him.
During the course of the disciplinary proceeding, Sayaovong failed to appear or present a defense and was declared in default. Sayaovong had a prior public reprimand. Disciplinary Proc. Against Sayaovong, 2015 WI 100.
Sayaovong has the burden of demonstrating by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence, that he has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin; that his resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest; that the representations made in his petition are substantiated; and that he has complied fully with the terms of the order of his suspension and with the requirements of SCR 22.26 regarding an attorney’s activities following suspension or revocation.
Interested parties may submit written comments regarding Sayaovong and his petition to the OLR, Attn: Sarah E. Peterson, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648. Alternatively, written comments may be submitted via email to sarah.peterson@wicourts.gov. Comments must be submitted by June 21, 2023. All comments will be forwarded to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If a referee is assigned to conduct a hearing in this matter, all comments will also be forwarded to the referee. Individuals who submit comments may be contacted by the OLR for more information.
Upon completion of the investigation of Sayaovong’s petition, the OLR will file a response with the supreme court. If the OLR does not oppose reinstatement, the OLR will enter into a stipulation for reinstatement with Sayaovong for direct consideration by the supreme court. If the OLR opposes reinstatement, a referee will be appointed and a reinstatement hearing scheduled.
Notice of any hearing on Sayaovong’s petition will be sent to those requesting such notice. A request for notice of hearing must include the address to which the notice is to be sent and should be directed to the OLR at either the post office box or email address above.
Information regarding the status of Sayaovong’s petition and any hearing can be obtained from OLR and is available at https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/lawyerreg/statuspetition.htm.
This notice is published pursuant to SCR 22.30(2) and will be the only notice published regarding this matter.
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