UK · EWCACourt order
Court of Appeal bars Part 18 ATE-commission probes in solicitor-own-client assessments
The Court of Appeal held on September 21, 2026 that a costs judge assessing a solicitor’s bill under the Solicitors Act 1974 cannot use CPR Part 18 to force answers about alleged after-the-event insurance commissions. Lady Justice Andrews, with Lord Justices Lewison and Phillips, allowed Coupland Cavendish Ltd (trading as Gowing Law) to overturn Sweeting J in Turner v Coupland Cavendish Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 1204.
Order (Find Case Law (The National Archives)) → · Solicitors Journal, Legal Futures
Key points
- The Court of Appeal allowed Gowing Law’s appeal in Turner v Coupland Cavendish Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 1204.Find Case Law (The National Archives)Solicitors JournalLegal Futures
- A costs judge cannot compel Part 18 answers about ATE insurer commissions in a solicitor assessment.Find Case Law (The National Archives)Solicitors JournalLegal Futures
- Assessment covers the bill; cash-account disputes do not open a secret-commission inquiry.Find Case Law (The National Archives)Solicitors Journal
- Edwards v Slater and Gordon on similar Part 18 orders was held wrongly decided.Find Case Law (The National Archives)Solicitors Journal
- Clients must seek an account or complain to the Legal Ombudsman; refusing to answer remains unwise.Find Case Law (The National Archives)Legal Futures
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
Find Case Law (The National Archives)
Legal Futures
Solicitors Journal