The Kansas Supreme Court issued an order of disbarment for attorney Mark Gregory Ayesh, formally ending his 46-year legal career after accepting his voluntary surrender of his Kansas law license. The disbarment follows a pattern of disciplinary violations that resulted in two previous license suspensions.
Ayesh was first admitted to practice law in Kansas on April 20, 1979. His legal troubles began with a three-year suspension that the court stayed after six months, contingent upon his completion of a probation plan approved by the Disciplinary Administrator's office. The Kansas Supreme Court documented this first suspension in *In re Ayesh*, 313 Kan. 441, 471, 485 P.3d 1155 (2021).
The attorney's second and more serious disciplinary action came in 2023, when the court indefinitely suspended his law license. This suspension resulted from Ayesh's admitted violations of multiple Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct (KRPC). Specifically, the court found violations of KRPC 5.5(a), which prohibits the unauthorized practice of law, and KRPC 8.4(c), which bars conduct involving dishonesty. Additionally, Ayesh violated Kansas Supreme Court Rule 231(b), another provision addressing unauthorized practice of law. The court documented these violations in *In re Ayesh*, 317 Kan. 405, 412, 530 P.3d 731 (2023).
The final chapter in Ayesh's disciplinary proceedings began when the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (ODA) moved the court to accept his voluntary surrender of his Kansas law license under Supreme Court Rule 230(a) and (b). Ayesh signed the surrender document on May 6, 2025, effectively acknowledging that he could no longer maintain his license to practice law in Kansas.
The Kansas Supreme Court granted the ODA's motion and formally accepted Ayesh's voluntary surrender. Under Rule 230(b), the court simultaneously disbarred Ayesh and revoked his license and privilege to practice law in Kansas. The order represents the most severe disciplinary sanction available, permanently ending an attorney's ability to practice law in the state.
As part of the disbarment order, the court directed the Office of Judicial Administration to strike Ayesh's name from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Kansas, effective immediately upon the date of the order. This administrative action formally removes any trace of Ayesh's authorization to practice law in the state.
The court's order also addressed the procedural implications of the voluntary surrender. Under Rule 230(b)(1)(C), any pending Kansas disciplinary cases against Ayesh terminated automatically upon the effective date of the disbarment order. However, the court noted that the Disciplinary Administrator retains authority to direct an investigator to complete any ongoing investigations for the purpose of preserving evidence.
Voluntary surrender of a law license typically occurs when an attorney faces serious disciplinary charges and chooses to relinquish their license rather than contest the allegations through a formal hearing process. While the surrender may avoid a contested disciplinary proceeding, it results in the same ultimate consequence as disbarment following a formal hearing.
The case illustrates the progressive nature of attorney discipline in Kansas. Ayesh's career trajectory moved from a stayed suspension with probation opportunities, to an indefinite suspension based on admitted violations, and finally to permanent disbarment through voluntary surrender. This progression reflects the legal profession's approach to protecting the public while providing attorneys with opportunities to rehabilitate their professional conduct.
The violations that led to Ayesh's downfall—unauthorized practice of law and conduct involving dishonesty—represent fundamental breaches of professional responsibility. Unauthorized practice typically involves practicing law while suspended or in jurisdictions where an attorney lacks proper authorization. Conduct involving dishonesty encompasses a broad range of behaviors that demonstrate unfitness for the practice of law.
For the legal profession in Kansas, the disbarment serves as a reminder of the serious consequences that flow from violations of professional conduct rules. The Kansas Supreme Court's willingness to accept voluntary surrenders while simultaneously imposing disbarment ensures that attorneys cannot simply walk away from serious misconduct without facing permanent professional consequences.
The order of disbarment becomes effective immediately, and Ayesh is permanently prohibited from practicing law in Kansas. Any attempt to practice law following disbarment would constitute unauthorized practice and could result in criminal charges in addition to contempt of court proceedings.