Butler v Bankside Commercial Ltd: CA 27 Feb 2020

The Court considered the interpretation of a provision in a standard form of conditional fee agreement (a ‘CFA’) made on Law Society terms. The term in question entitles the solicitors, on termination of their retainer in certain circumstances, to payment both of their basic charges and disbursements and also their success fee if the client goes on to win her claim. What is in dispute is what triggers that entitlement. The relevant provision of the CFA expresses the trigger event as follows: ‘We can end this agreement if you reject our opinion about making a settlement with your opponent.’

Judges:

Lord Justice Lewison

Citations:

[2020] EWCA Civ 203

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Contract, Costs

Updated: 23 October 2022; Ref: scu.648516