Solicitor & Client Costs Disputes - Recent Case Law & Developments

Introduction

In the evolving world of costs, this new virtual classroom seminar will look at recent case law and developments which are fuelling the rise in disputes between solicitors and clients.

The session will highlight some of the expanding list of costs decisions arising from disputes between solicitors and their clients, such as Kenton v Slee Blackwell PLC where a law firm’s costs were reduced from £235,263 to £60,000 due to the fee estimates provided, and Diag Human SE & Anor v Volterra Fietta (Re Assessment Under Part III Solicitors Act 1974) where a solicitor’s bill was reduced from $2.9m to nothing due to an unenforceable CFA.

It will also explore various cases where the courts have found that solicitor's bills were not statute bills and therefore the clients had a right to seek an assessment many months after the invoices had been issued and paid.

This session will not only cover the latest legal developments but will also provide guidance as to what steps solicitors can take to prevent such disputes.

The session assumes attendees have a good grasp of the Civil Procedure Rules.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• The potential consequences of getting an estimate wrong
• The potential consequences of getting a CFA wrong
• Why many retainers are preventing the issuance of statute bills
• Whether deductions from funds held amount to payment of a bill
• When the court will order a detailed assessment as between solicitor and client
• What may amount to special circumstances for the purposes of considering whether to order an assessment
• The basis of an assessment as between solicitor and client

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.