Attorney Stephen Girdwood Faces Disbarment Over Allegations of Stealing $500,000 in Client Funds
Lebanon attorney Stephen Girdwood is facing disbarment proceedings after New Hampshire’s Attorney Discipline Office accused him of misappropriating nearly $500,000 from client escrow accounts. The funds, primarily from the divorce settlement of Keith and Athena Nicholson, were allegedly diverted into an investment company called Frozen Lake Sports and Entertainment, in which Girdwood was an officer. An investigation by the discipline office found that Girdwood made unauthorized international wire transfers, including $200,000 of the Nicholsons’ funds, to HSBC Bank Hong Kong. He also made subsequent transfers to a Merrill Lynch account owned by Bruce Weissman, president of Frozen Lake. Girdwood confessed to Lebanon police, who referred the case to the FBI. During a recent hearing, a four-member panel ruled that there was 'clear and convincing' evidence supporting multiple misconduct allegations. Girdwood invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and called no witnesses. He was placed on interim suspension from pra...
