Sohail Sultan Ahmad & Anor v Meerna Ali Ghuloom Faraj

Sohail Sultan Ahmad & Anor v Meerna Ali Ghuloom Faraj

The husband's deliberate and continuing contempt in failing to pay the legal services payment order impedes the course of justice by preventing the wife from participating fairly in the appeal. There is no other effective remedy, and a Hadkinson order barring the husband from being heard on his appeal until payment is made is proportionate and necessary. An immediate unless order would be disproportionate; the husband is given a further opportunity to comply.

Parties
Defendant/appellant: Sohail Sultan Ahmad; Defendant/appellant: IIB Group Holdings W. L. L.; Applicant/respondent: Meerna Ali Ghuloom Faraj
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
10 August 2025
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Case Management Hearing on Appeal, Post Judgment, Enforcement of Legal Services Payment Order
Outcome
Hadkinson order made; husband's appeal barred unless and until LSPO paid; unless order with long-stop date for dismissal of appeal if LSPO not paid.
Legal Topics
Financial Remedies, Legal Services Payment Order, Contempt of Court, Case Management, Hadkinson Order, Unless Order
Family Law Civil Procedure Financial Remedies Legal Services Payment Order Contempt of Court Case Management Hadkinson Order Unless Order

Case Brief

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Parties

Sohail Sultan Ahmad

Defendant/appellant

IIB Group Holdings W. L. L.

Defendant/appellant

Meerna Ali Ghuloom Faraj

Applicant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Case Management Hearing on Appeal, Post Judgment, Enforcement of Legal Services Payment Order

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a Hadkinson or unless order should be made against the husband for failure to pay a legal services payment order
  2. 2 Whether the husband's appeal should be barred or dismissed for non-compliance with the LSPO
  3. 3 Whether the husband's contempt is deliberate and continuing

Ratio Decidendi

The husband's deliberate and continuing contempt in failing to pay the legal services payment order impedes the course of justice by preventing the wife from participating fairly in the appeal. There is no other effective remedy, and a Hadkinson order barring the husband from being heard on his appeal until payment is made is proportionate and necessary. An immediate unless order would be disproportionate; the husband is given a further opportunity to comply.

Court Disposition

Hadkinson order made; husband's appeal barred unless and until LSPO paid; unless order with long-stop date for dismissal of appeal if LSPO not paid.

Orders

  • Husband to pay £120,000 + VAT to wife in satisfaction of LSPO by 2 May 2025.
  • Husband's appeal not to be listed or heard unless and until LSPO paid in full.