Solicitor and client estimate binding

Reynolds v Stone Rowe Brewer (a firm) [2008] EWHC 49 (QB); SJ 8 April p 29

The claimant instructed the defendant solicitors to represent her in a dispute with a building contractor and they informed her that the estimated cost of taking the matter forward and through to trial would be in the region of £10,000–£18,000 plus VAT. Throughout the course of the litigation, the defendants rendered a number of invoices. They then wrote to the claimant saying that their estimate of the likely cost of the case had to be revised to around £30,000 plus VAT. The costs judge held that the solicitor should be bound by the estimate of £18,000, to which a 15% ‘margin’ should be added pursuant to the decision in Wong v Vizards [1997] 2 Costs LR 46 QBD, limiting the solicitors’ entitlement to £20,700.