In the matter of Bell Lawyers Pty Ltd v Pentelow & Anor [2018] HCATrans 264, the High Court has granted special leave to appeal an earlier decision of the New South Wales Supreme Court, after it held that the Chorley exception may extend to barristers.
The case follows a lengthy legal battle between Sydney barrister Janet Penetelow and Bell Lawyers, after the firm failed to pay Ms Pentelow $25,988.55 for work she performed on a family law case in 2008.
Ms Pentelow subsequently initiated proceedings and was successful in her claim. However Bell Lawyers refused to pay when Ms Pentelow claimed almost $45,000 for work she did as a self-represented litigant on that case.
In August 2018, a 2-1 majority of the New South Wales Supreme Court held that the Chorley rule that allowed solicitors to recover costs when acting as self-represented litigants also applied to barristers. Bell Lawyers subsequently applied to the High Court for special leave to appeal that decision.
The matter was heard before Chief Justice Kiefel and Justice Gordon in December, where counsel acting for Ms Pentelow contended that special leave ought to be refused as the costs in question were no more than $44,000 and the costs of running an appeal would far exceed that amount for both parties. In doing so, they submitted that granting special leave would be inappropriate on the basis that ‘it would be inimical to the interests of justice and … the established requirement that litigation be just, cheap and quick.’
However Bell Lawyers argued that ‘cost shifting is a crucial part of the administration of justice’ and subsequently that Ms Pentelow’s contention about the amount of costs being relatively modest ‘ought not to be seen as a disqualification from special leave.’
Ultimately the court granted special leave, concluding that the matter should be remitted to the full court. In doing so, Gordon J submitted that regard should be had to three questions:
- Is the Chorley exception still good law?
- Does it extend to barristers?
- Does it extend to barristers who have retained a solicitor and counsel to appear for them?
The case is likely to be heard in the first half of this year, with both parties agreeing it should only take one day. It highlights a highly contentious area of Australian law and it will be interesting to note the outcome and its implications for future cases.
