Erik Graeff, 42, has appeared in court on multiple charges related to the bizarre shooting in Beaverton, Oregon, USA.

Nobody was hurt, but there was an administrative assistant in the office at the time. Officers recovered multiple bullet casings from the site.

Emails seen by The Oregonian suggest the dispute began just before Christmas because the other lawyer, Terrence Hogan, criticised Mr Graeff’s work on a recent civil case on which the pair collaborated.

The criticism allegedly led Mr Graeff to send expletive-filled emails with threats and strange boasts that he was “tougher” than Mr Hogan and the state bars in Oregon and Washington, where he practices.

In one email, Mr Graeff allegedly wrote: “Don’t suck too many reindeer d**ks over the holiday.”

Mr Graeff told the court in Hillsboro that he is in the process of hiring a lawyer. He will reappear before the court next month.