Legal Services Regulation Act 2015

Review of determination of Legal Costs Adjudicator

161. (1) A party to an adjudication who has made an application under section 160 may, not later than 21 days after the date on which the Legal Costs Adjudicator has made his or her determination under section 160 (5), apply to the High Court for a review of the determination concerned.

(2) A review under this section shall be made by motion on notice to all other parties to the adjudication and the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator.

(3) The court shall hear and determine the review on the evidence that was tendered to the Legal Costs Adjudicator unless the court orders that other evidence be submitted.

(4) The court shall, having heard the review under subsection (1)

(a) confirm the determination of the Legal Costs Adjudicator, or

(b) allow the review and—

(i) remit the matter to the Legal Costs Adjudicator to determine the adjudication in accordance with the decision of the court, or

(ii) substitute its own determination for that of the Legal Costs Adjudicator.

(5) The High Court shall allow a review under subsection (4)(b) only where it is satisfied that the Legal Costs Adjudicator has, in his or her determination, erred as to the amount of the allowance or disallowance so that the determination is unjust.

(6) In this section “court” means—

(a) if the adjudication the subject of the review is in relation to party and party costs, the court that heard the proceedings to which those costs relate, and

(b) in any other case, the High Court.