Barnes (Appellant) v BDB Pitmans LLP (Respondent)
Wednesday 13 May 2026
By an Appellant’s Notice filed on 1 April 2025, the Appellant appeals an order made by the Circuit Court on 11 March 2025, which dismissed an appeal against an order made by the District Court.
The central issue is whether a written agreement between a solicitor and client concerning remuneration for contentious business constitutes a Contentious Business Agreement under the Solicitors Act 1974.
The Solicitors Act 1974 provide statutory protections for clients who enter into a Contentious Business Agreement, limiting what solicitors may charge and restricting the court’s discretion on costs assessment. Both the District Judge and Circuit Judge held that the agreement was not a Contentious Business Agreement, on the basis that it lacked sufficient clarity and certainty.
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