Our client was charged $367,460.73 by their commercial lawyer and had paid $240,705.22 toward their legal costs. Our client's former lawyer had filed a debt recovery proceeding, seeking payment of $126,755.51 + interest + costs in the County Court of Victoria. In March 2023, we wrote to the client's former lawyer seeking a stay of the debt recovery proceeding, which was eventually rejected alongside an unreasonable offer. The matter was refused in the Costs Court until the County Court proceeding was dismissed. Ultimately, the matter settled in a private mediation (organised by the other side), resulting in our client having to pay a further $75,000 in legal fees, instead of the $126,755.51 + interest + costs. This was a 14.08% reduction in legal fees.
All of this occurred within 7 months of engagement.