BL-2023-BRS-000024 - [2025] EWHC 2898 (Ch)

I am not going to attempt to rewrite the schedule of costs in the light of what I have said above. This is not a line by line scrutiny, but instead a “broad brush approach”: see eg Football Association Premier League v The Lord Chancellor [2021] EWHC 1001 (QB), [20]. Looking at the various categories of work done, I will allow 60 hours for attendances on the defendants, 20 hours for attendances on opponents and 17 hours for attendance at the hearing. I will allow a total of 117 hours for work done on documents, split between the seven categories set out in the schedule of work done on documents. In each case, I will allow some of the time for supervision by a partner, the bulk of the time by the grade B fee earner (associate C) and some of the time by the grade D fee earner (fee earner D). The rates allowed for the solicitors’ work will be the guideline rate appropriate for the particular fee earner. Taking matters broadly, I will therefore allow £17,000 for attendances on the defendants, £6,000 for attendances on the claimants, and £5,500 for attendance at the hearing. I will allow £30,000 for work done on documents. That makes a total of £58,500. This is, coincidentally, the same amount as that claimed in respect of counsel. As it happens, I can see no good reason to interfere with that sum.