In a much-anticipated decision handed down today (23rd October 2024), the Supreme Court has held that “payment” for the purposes of s.70 of the Solicitors Act 1974 requires an agreement to pay the sum specified in the bill. It is not (as the CA had held) met by a mere agreement to the transfer of money followed by the appropriation by the solicitors of a sum towards their costs. In short (a) clients may well have longer to challenge invoices than they thought and (b) solicitors are well advised to ensure agreement by their clients to the specific amount claimed in their invoices.
To read Dan Stacey and Alice Nash's full case note please click below.
