Simms v Law Society

1. This is a judgment of the Court. 2. We have considered the issue as to an interim payment as to costs with care. Having regard to the material available, it seems to us that a clear case has been made for an interim payment. The present practice is to make such an order in a sum which sensibly reflects the minimum that is likely to be awarded after detailed assessment. In the present case, the respondent asked not merely for an interim payment in relation to the appeal, but also in relation to the Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal. We do not consider it appropriate to make an interim order in relation to the latter costs. But in the light of all the material with which we have been presented, it is clear that it is appropriate to make an order in relation to the costs before us; and we order that the respondent pay £80,000 on account of his liability for those costs. The Court’s Order will therefore be in the form of the draft provided by the respondent, as amended in the form annexed to this judgment.