DIFC 037/2019
Global Advocacy And Legal Counsel v The Industrial Group
This case involved the non-payment of fees owned to a law firm for acting on various litigation matters for a company. This included if there had been pver charging, an agreed fee cap and if there was negligence in cases involving the end of service gratuity penalty.
Background
The Defendant was a company incorporated in the DIFC with business interests in the Middle East. Over a number of years it in engaged the Claimant a law firm practising in Dubai and elsewhere in the Middle East, for advice and for representation in litigation.
The claimant claimed the recovery of legal fees and disbursements from the company for acting in a number of matters, of 1,171, 916.87 AED in total, together with interest. The company counterclaimed for damages for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty in relation to one of the matters, claiming 1,682,619.18 AED.
The law firm generally invoiced the company monthly for work done. The outstanding fees were invoiced over the period October 2017 to February 2019.