However, it is highly probable that this refers to , who is the wife of the notorious disbarred Toronto lawyer Javad Heydary . ⚖️ The Heydary-Young Case
The Netley case has sparked debate within the Law Society about oversight of sole practitioners. Between 2020 and 2025, the LSO saw a 34% increase in trust-account violations among solo lawyers. In a December 2025 policy paper, the LSO recommended mandatory third-party bookkeeping for any lawyer handling more than $250,000 in annual trust funds—a direct response to the Netley affair.
The tribunal’s decision described Netley’s conduct as “egregious” and “marked by deliberate dishonesty,” noting that he showed “no genuine remorse.” He was ordered to pay restitution of over $600,000, plus $150,000 in LSO costs.
Perhaps the most damaging piece of evidence is an email recovered from a client’s phone. On August 12, 2023, William Netley wrote to a client: “The delay in your payment is because my wife mistakenly archived the trust accounting file. Rachel is looking for the backup now.” The LSO argues this email demonstrates that Rachel Netley had routine access to and control over client financial records—a role prohibited for non-licensees under Ontario’s Law Society Act .
faces a conduct application before the Law Society Tribunal—a rare proceeding against a non-lawyer. The LSO has the power to seek a court order barring her from “any employment or volunteer position involving the management of trust funds or client property in Ontario.” A hearing is scheduled for September 2026.
The LSO’s investigation uncovered three key allegations involving Rachel Netley: