Spotlight on costs between a party and its solicitors (Zakirov v Newmans Solicitors)

Table of contents

• Practical implications
• Court details
• Facts
• Judgment
• Should the costs be paid on the standard or indemnity basis?
• Was the defendant solicitor a litigant in person?
• What rates can the defendant recover?

Article summary

The High Court has considered a number of costs issues in respect of a dispute between a solicitor and her client. It held that costs should be paid on an indemnity basis as the case was well outside the norm and the claimant’s conduct had been unreasonable to a significant degree. In addition, it found that a solicitor acting for herself but in her firm’s name was not a litigant in person for the purposes of the costs cap under the CPR. This followed findings by the court that allegations of forgery and dishonesty against the solicitor were completely without foundation.