A solicitor is being investigated by police over claims he misappropriated almost $6 million in trust money to buy an "expensive new house" in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Mark Leo O'Brien, who recently worked at Edgecliff firm Harrington Maguire and O'Brien, has been suspended from practising after his business partner became wary of his ability to afford a $3.4 million Bondi Junction home.

Edgecliff solicitor Mark Leo O'Brien's colleague became suspicious after he bought the luxurious home. Credit:Domain

In an urgent application before Supreme Court judge Stephen Campbell earlier this month, the Law Society of NSW applied to freeze the assets of Mr O'Brien and his wife, Therese, after he fronted up to the legal body.

"Facts incidentally came to the attention of the solicitor's law partner who, knowing intimately the profitability of the practice, was set to wondering about how his law partner had been able to afford an expensive new house at Bondi," Justice Campbell said in an April 4 judgment.