Can I Transfer My Case To You?
- Article
- 20 Oct 2026
This is a question I am often asked.
Many clients considering transferring are worried about what they might owe their previous solicitors.This is usually dealt with by an undertaking to pay them at the end of the case.Besides in many instances we are able to achieve a significant reduction in costs claimed by the previous solicitors.
A good example is a case I took over from a firm of solicitors in Queensland. They had been acting in a claim arising out of a motor vehicle accident in New South Wales.When I requested the file they said their costs were $358,150!I said that couldn’t be right as the client was only awarded $577,386.They insisted it was right and that they were entitled to the full amount.I had a close look at it and thought they were only entitled to $60,079.They weren’t having a bar of that and so I had to take it to the Supreme Court for assessment.Well we have just received the certificate of assessment and the assessor agreed with me finding that they were only entitled to $60,079.
Needless to say the client was very happy!
As often happens we had another excellent result for a client in his costs dispute with his previous solicitors the very next day.
In that case the client was represented by a New South Wales firm who has a large personal injury practice in Sydney. The client’s case had settled for $600,000 but he was concerned about the legal bill he had received for $202,135.I said I thought it was too much and that all he should have to pay was $40,000 meaning he was entitled to a refund of $162,135 plus interest.He gave me the go ahead and so I wrote to his previous solicitors requesting a refund of $175,000.They offered $30,000 but I said no.Then they increased to $100,000 but again I said no.Then, just as I was about to commence court proceedings, they agreed to refund the full $175,000.
Again, one very happy client!