[2011] EWHC 420 (QB)

On the proper interpretation and application of the Litigators' Graduated Fees Scheme contained in the Criminal Defence Service (Funding) Order 2007 Sch.2, a litigator who had represented multiple defendants tried on the same indictment was entitled to recoup one basic fee plus the prescribed defendant uplift according to the total number of defendants represented. There was no justification whatsoever for treating as the touchstone for the basis of remuneration multiple case numbers randomly allocated by the Crown Court to defendants on the same indictment: litigators were to be remunerated per case, not per case number.

QBD (Spencer J)

02/03/2011