Members of the Society called for an SGM in August following concerns about the Society’s handling of an investigation into the provision of a character reference to a convicted paedophile by chief executive David Lavery.

However, the Belfast Solicitors Association voiced concerns in the run up to the meeting that they had not yet received draft motions, polls or resolutions due to be considered at the meeting or advance disclosure of relevant documentation and information which they considered necessary to fully understand and assess the matters which were likely be discussed and upon which they may ultimately have been asked to vote.

Granite Legal Services (GLS) issued a statement that they had called on the Society to provide members with substantive information and documentation before the SGM arguing that members “cannot make informed decisions without meaningful disclosure”.

Mr Gervase McGenity, one of the principals of GLS, said: “This is not about personalities. It is about governance”.

On Tuesday evening, however, members received an email from the Society calling off the planned SGM and disclosing that a disciplinary panel had found Mr Lavery guilty of gross misconduct but had imposed a sanction short of dismissal.

The Society has now informed members that the SGM has been rescheduled and will take place on Monday 19 October at 2pm in the Europa Hotel Belfast.