Key Facts
- •Appeal against Deputy Costs Judge Erwin-Jones' order (QA-2021-000030).
- •Appellants challenged hourly rates, time spent on respondent attendances, and interest rate.
- •Respondent's costs schedule included rates exceeding Solicitors' Guidelines.
- •Appeal dismissed.
- •£1300 reduction in costs due to disallowed grade A fee earner attendance.
Legal Principles
Reasonableness and proportionality of hourly rates in costs assessment.
Solicitors' Guidelines
Interest on costs judgments governed by the Judgments Act 1838.
Judgments Act 1838
Outcomes
Appeal dismissed.
Hourly rates, while exceeding guidelines in some instances, were not deemed unreasonable or disproportionate. Time spent on respondent attendances was justified given the complexity and duration of the appeal. Interest rate correctly applied under the Judgments Act 1838.
Costs order in favour of the respondent for £34,355.55.
This reflects the original claim less the £1300 reduction for the disallowed grade A fee earner attendance.
£1300 reduction in costs awarded to the appellants.
The respondent conceded that fees claimed for a grade A fee earner attending the hearing should be disallowed.