Despite lack of law license, man represents clients in court in New York and New Jersey
Operating from a New York City law office, Mikhail Perlov represented clients in court in criminal matters in Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan and Queens, as well as Belmar and Rahway, New Jersey.
But there was one big problem: He wasn’t licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey or any other state, according to the New York attorney general.
Perlov, who also handled civil matters for clients during at least one year in “practice,” claimed expertise in multiple areas of the law in a Russian-language newspaper advertisement that included his photograph and Brooklyn law office address, states a news release from AG Eric Schneiderman.
At least 51 individuals were defrauded by Perlov, who in fact lacked not only a law license but any legal training yet claimed to be admitted in New York, New Jersey and Florida, the AG says.
Under a court consent order, Perlov has agreed to stop practicing and pay at least $52,000 in restitution, plus a civil penalty. The order says he engaged in false advertising, fraud and deceptive business practices, as well as unauthorized practice of law.
The New York Post says Perlov’s lack of a law license was exposed when a prosecutor challenged his credentials in court. The newspaper relies on an unidentified source for this information.
The New York Daily News also has a story.
