A tribunal has ruled that a Toronto lawyer charged with intimate partner violence and making death threats can continue to practise. The Law Society of Ontario had sought a temporary suspension or practice restrictions for Jagdeep Sikh Virk, 47, due to the serious criminal charges he faced.
The Law Society Tribunal panel dismissed the motion, determining that there was no risk to the public or the administration of justice. In an email, Virk expressed his gratitude for the decision and his intention to continue practising law.
Virk has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, four of assault, and one of uttering threats related to incidents in 2024. However, the sex assault and assault charges were withdrawn in June 2025, with Virk claiming the complainant had lied to the police.
Despite the allegations, the tribunal did not consider the outcome of the criminal charges. The remaining allegation of uttering a threat has not been tested in court, but the quotes reproduced in the tribunal decision from an alleged audio recording of Virk and the complainant are disturbing.
The audio recording appears to contain threatening language, with Virk allegedly stating that he would kill the complainant and smash her face. However, Virk's lawyer has maintained that the allegations remain unproven, including the claim that Virk is the male voice on the recording.
The Law Society argued that the allegations would shake public confidence in the profession if Virk was permitted to continue practising. However, the tribunal panel disagreed, citing inconsistencies in the complainant's story and the lack of a clear case that she was a vulnerable subordinate.
The panel also noted that the Law Society's investigation is still at an early stage, and a reasonable member of the public would be troubled by a lawyer being removed from practice on an interlocutory basis. The Law Society has stated that it is reviewing the decision.
