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United Kingdom

Solicitors Act detailed assessment bid time‑barred: third‑party payments treated as payment; Vishal Mehta fails to challenge £3.1m Howard Kennedy fees (High Court of England and Wales)

Published on: 29 April 2025

Published by a Law360 reporter
Legal News
Article summary

Costs Judge Mark Whalan ruling

Costs Judge Mark Whalan held that Vishal Mehta cannot have the court scrutinise a £3.1m (US$4.1m) invoice issued by solicitors Howard Kennedy LLP. Vishal, son of Jatin Mehta—alleged to have misappropriated proceeds of gold bullion loans advanced to his diamond enterprise via a network of companies said to be under family control—had sought a review of the firm’s fees pursuant to the Solicitors Act 1974. That statute permits clients to contest fees and obtain a detailed assessment by a costs judge. However, such an assessment is available only where the application is brought within 12 months of payment of the bill, and Howard Kennedy contended that this window had already closed. On that basis, the judge found Mehta was not entitled to a detailed assessment...

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