15 August 2025

A solicitor who sexually harassed and bullied his own employees has been recommended to be struck-off the roll of Australian lawyers following charges brought by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner.

We brought 14 charges against Nickita Knight to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal between 2022 and 2023. This included engaging in substance abuse that adversely affected his legal practice, failing to comply with trust accounting rules, failing to supervise his employees and making false statements to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

Mr Knight was also charged for posting online a classified advertisement for sexual services, which included a former employee’s private telephone number, and intentionally providing dishonest explanations to us about posting the advertisement.

This conduct occurred between 2018 and 2020 while Mr Knight was sole principal at his law practice, Knight Family Lawyers.

On 13 August 2025, the Tribunal found that Mr Knight’s conduct amounted to 13 counts of professional misconduct and one count of unsatisfactory professional conduct.

Ultimately, the Tribunal made the following orders:

• Mr Knight be reprimanded
• The Tribunal recommends to the Supreme Court of Victoria for Mr Knight’s name to be removed from the roll of practitioners
• Mr Knight not be granted a practising certificate until the expiry of 5 years from the date of the decision
• Mr Knight be subject to a condition on any future practising certificate he obtains that he engage in legal practice only as an employee solicitor of a law practice for a further period of 5 years
• Mr Knight pay the Commissioner’s costs fixed in the sum of $40,000.00.

In its orders, which are subject to a 28-day appeal period, the Tribunal said that community standards and expectations when it comes to the consequences of engaging in sexual harassment and workplace bullying have shifted.

This outcome is the result of a complex investigation undertaken by the VLSB+C.

Victorian Legal Services Commissioner Fiona McLeay welcomed the decision by the Tribunal.

“Have no doubt, we do not tolerate bullying and sexual harassment of any kind in the legal profession, and we will take action against perpetrators,” Ms McLeay said.

“Since my appointment as Commissioner, the VLSB+C has taken a number of steps to tackle the scourge of sexual harassment in Victoria’s legal profession – including a nation-first anonymous reporting tool and a sexual harassment regulatory strategy.”

“The Knight case sets a very significant precedent, and should serve as a warning for those who hold onto antiquated behaviours in the law,” Ms McLeay said.

For media enquiries, contact media@lsbc.vic.gov.au.