Lawyer Llewellyn Peniston has been suspended from legal practice for a month after admitting failing to produce his accounts for the Bermuda Bar Association.

The former UBP Senator admitted the charge in May but appealed against a three-month ban imposed by the Bar's disciplinary panel.

The Court of Appeal ruled last month that the suspension should be reduced to 30 days with seven days served to be taken into account.

Mr. Peniston breached the rules governing barristers' accounts and records by "failing to produce or cause to be produced to the accountant designated by the Bar Council his books, records, files, accounts and other documents" in May last year.

He was charged by the Bar Association on August 16 last year and admitted the charge on May 19 this year, the day his disciplinary hearing was due to take place before a tribunal panel led by a Supreme Court judge.

His three-month ban was imposed on June 6 but he appealed so was able to continue practising. On June 13 he was ordered to pay $2,500 to the Bermuda Bar Association in respect of costs.

The Court of Appeal heard his appeal on November 26 and allowed it by reducing the suspension two days later. No order was made on costs, according to a notice in the Official Gazette.

The Royal Gazette understands that the Bar Council, the elected governing body of the Bar Association, asked to see Mr. Peniston's books after a complaint about his professional conduct from a client, but he refused the request.

Bermuda Bar Association president Rod Attride-Stirling has said he is unable, under the law, to make any comment on disciplinary matters.

Mr. Peniston also got into trouble with the Bermuda Bar Association in January 2007, when its disciplinary panel gave him a one-year suspension from all work involving real estate law after he "acted in a verbally abusive and intimidating manner" and "failed to abide by the terms of his professional undertaking".