Ivanishvili (claimant/respondent) v Signature Litigation LLP (defendant/appellant)
Thursday 18 July 2024
The Defendant firm of solicitors appeal against the order made by Costs Judge Leonard on 28/11/23.
The issue is whether the invoices in question amount to a statutory bill for the purposes of the Solicitors Act 1974. He held in the negative.
The case concerns how solicitors bill for their charges under Discounted CFA (DCFAs): these differ from the traditional CFA in providing for lawyers to be paid unconditionally at discounted rates. The bills are subject to regular billing, with an uplift becoming payable if the case succeeds.
The question is whether a client must challenge the discounted fees within 12 months of payment to be entitled to an assessment under s 70 Solicitors Act 1974.
The costs judge concluded that the time limit does not apply as, on his view, a bill for discounted fees is not necessarily a final bill for the work and the s 70 timetable can only be triggered by a final bill.
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