A corporation sought an order under the Solicitors Act referring a law firm’s legal accounts to assessment.
The corporation had indemnified a former executive for defence costs in regulatory proceedings and had paid most of the law firm’s accounts over a two‑and‑a‑half‑year period.
The court held that accounts paid more than twelve months before the application were final accounts and therefore statute‑barred from assessment absent fraud or misconduct.
Accounts paid within twelve months were not subject to assessment because the applicant failed to establish “special circumstances.” However, three recent unpaid accounts were referred to assessment as it was just and equitable given the breakdown in the parties’ relationship.
