Mequon attorney faces discipline for alleged misconduct in Illinois

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A Mequon attorney could face discipline in Wisconsin for misconduct that got him disbarred in Illinois.

According to a complaint filed Oct. 13 by the Office of Lawyer regulation, the Supreme Court of Illinois disbarred David Silberman in September over two counts of misconduct. Silberman also failed to notify the OLR about the disciplinary action, according to the complaint.

Silberman is believed to have transferred more than $460,000 in real estate escrow money into the operating account of a business he owned, the Mequon-based Nova Title & Closing Services, according to documents attached to the complaint. He transferred the money over the course of two years while he was a working as an attorney and a title agent for the Illinois-based Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, which issues title-insurance policies and services for real estate transactions.

The transfers, which occurred from March 2013 to February 2015, had no purpose related to the escrow accounts and did not concern money owed to Silberman for his services, according to the complaint.

Some of the money was returned, according to the complaint, but $180,000 was not. Silberman did not participate in the Illinois disciplinary proceedings.

The OLR is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court revoke Silberman’s license as reciprocal discipline.

Silberman could not immediately be reached Monday.

The justices have not previously disciplined Silberman, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and has been licensed to practice in Wisconsin since 1972. His license has been suspended since October 2015 for failing to pay bar dues. He has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1973. Follow @erikastrebel