costs dispute

Firm’s $880k fee claim undone by costs disclosure delay
In a decision that highlighted the importance of strict compliance with costs disclosures, a Federal Court has rejected...
08 September 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Clifford Chance wins arbitration showdown
A complex costs dispute involving a global firm has forced a court to untangle competing arbitration and jurisdiction...
04 September 2026
By Naomi Neilson
$111k to $31k to $111k: The costs dispute going round in circles
A long-running costs dispute between a personal injury firm and its former client has gone from $111,000 to $31,000 and...
31 August 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Files must be shown to disgruntled ex-client, court says
An NSW man with a total judgment debt of $790,000 has been granted permission to view files held by a law firm to...
11 June 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Solicitor’s application branded abuse of process in multi-party costs dispute
Having found it amounted to an abuse of process, a senior judge has tossed a solicitor’s attempts to join a...
08 June 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Sydney law firm escalates fee fight with senior counsel
A Sydney firm and a senior counsel with a “longstanding professional association” have found themselves locked in a...
07 May 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Boutique firm’s fee dispute drags into 16th year
What began as a $338,000 legal fee dispute has spiralled into a 16-year legal battle with no end in sight.
28 April 2026
By Naomi Neilson
‘Inappropriate’: Court slates solicitor for costs application failure
A solicitor has been criticised for a “clearly inadequate” costs application, which included the...
14 January 2026
By Naomi Neilson
Struck-off lawyer fights Melbourne firm over allegedly unfair costs agreement
A struck-off Victorian lawyer has fought a boutique law firm over a costs agreement he alleged was unclear and unfair.
08 January 2026
By Naomi Neilson
‘Sorry saga of costs’: Firm clashes with client over hefty legal bill
A District Court judge described an ongoing and expensive legal bill dispute between a firm and its former client as a...
15 December 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Piper Alderman dragged back into costs fight with Care A2
National legal practice Piper Alderman was unable to hold onto the default judgment entered against former client and...
14 November 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Perth firm fights client for fees after allegedly pulling discount
The director of a West Perth law firm allegedly went back on his promise to discount a $200,000 legal bill when he...
08 May 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Client let off the hook for indemnity costs despite ‘serious’ misconduct accusations
A client who levelled serious and unfounded accusations against his former lawyers was hit with a costs order, but a...
07 May 2025
By Naomi Neilson
‘Severe’ cost failures at Perth law firm, client alleges
A Perth law firm was ordered to scrap its legal bills and start again after a former client complained its alleged...
15 April 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Alleged overcharging of accident victims by compensation firm, court told
Two clients of a boutique compensation firm will have their legal bills assessed after a third client had his costs...
08 April 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Wilkinson fails to hook referee costs on Network Ten
A court has tossed out an attempt by Lisa Wilkinson to have Network Ten foot the bill for a costs assessor who...
19 March 2025
By Naomi Neilson
‘Unfair’ clauses in costs agreements need further guidance, tribunal says
While dealing with a firm’s fight over a $277,000 bill, a tribunal member suggested the Law Society provide further...
08 January 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Firms to suffer if Victorian Supreme Court probate fees skyrocket, LIV says
A substantial increase in the Supreme Court of Victoria’s probate office fees could make it the most expensive state...
29 July 2024
By Naomi Neilson
Brisbane firm accused of ‘negligent’ handling of criminal case
A woman levelled several allegations at a Brisbane criminal law firm, including claims her solicitors provided...
24 July 2024
By Naomi Neilson
Sydney firm overcomes ‘deficiencies’ in $300k fee fight
A Sydney boutique firm that spent years chasing a client over $300,000 in unpaid fees has won yet another court battle...
15 July 2024
By Naomi Neilson