A former Sidley Austin partner who specializes in art law has been suspended for one year by a unanimous Appellate Division, First Department panel, for charging car service rides for himself and his family to clients.
Ralph Lerner, 70, joined Sidley as a partner in 1986. In 2008, the firm confronted him about the car service rides. Lerner reimbursed clients about $50,000 and resigned from the firm. The firm told Lerner it would report him to the Departmental Disciplinary Committee unless he reported himself, which he did. Lerner is now of counsel at Withers.
