Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Brief fees vs hourly rates
  • 28 Apr 1999

    THE BUILDING AUTHORITY v. BUSINESS RIGHTS LTD.

    Citation
    THE BUILDING AUTHORITY v. BUSINESS RIGHTS LTD.
    Court
    Court of Appeal
    Case number
    CACV212/1993

    Where the same salaried government lawyer has had conduct of the litigation from outset to finish, court advocacy by that lawyer should be assessed on an hourly (solicitor-style) basis including an appropriate profit element; awarding full barrister-style brief fees and refreshers to such a government lawyer would produce an excessive profit/bonus inconsistent with the indemnity principle and is therefore inappropriate; a brief fee may be permissible where a separate government advocate is instructed, but its quantum must be reduced so as not to breach the indemnity principle.