A recent US case of a law firm suing a client contains a salutary lesson.
Debevoise & Plimpton had sued former client Candlewood for $6million in unpaid legal fees and found itself facing “an answer and counterclaim” seeking damages of $55million! [Ex-Debevoise Client Raises Nasty Counterclaims in Unpaid Bills Case, The American Lawyer, 14 January, 2010]
Apparently, some of Candlewood’s allegations against their former advisers were not too flattering which only goes to show that the publicity generated by this type of dispute is often publicity the law firm could well do without.
According to Candlewood’s counterclaim, D&P managed to bill for more than 15,000 hours or the equivalent of 10 lawyers working full time for the 10 month period in question, whereas Candlewood’s Delaware based lawyers successfully represented the company for two and a half years at a total cost of $450,000.
Could this happen in England?