QFC 0065/2023, [2024] QIC (C) 3

Whitepencil LLC v Ahmed Barakat

The initial dispute involved unpaid invoices for legal work done by a law firm which was the successful party. Issues included the proportionality of the costs against the claim, the level of seniority required for the work and if background reading and issues with uploading case documentation should be factored into costs.

Background

On 30 November 2023, the First Instance Circuit (Justices George Arestis, Ali Malek KC and Helen Mountfield KC) ordered the Defendant to pay the Claimant $2,950 plus interest within 14 days. The judgment was satisfied on 1 December 2023. The Claimant was a law firm, and the Defendant was their former client. the The figure in dispute comprised unpaid invoices for services rendered by the Claimant to the Defendant. The Claimant had also claimed $50,000 by way of reputation damages in the British Virgin Islands, but the Court did not award this figure. This case involved the assessment of reasonable costs that the Claimant – the successful party – was entitled to claim from the Defendant.