Crastvell Trading Limited v Bozel SA - Radcliffe Chambers

MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: Yes. Attendances on colleagues is a rather strange
concept. It may be popping round next door and saying: what do you think?
MR. MAJUMDAR: Yes. Cumulatively that seems like quite a lot of time under that
category.
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: What is your offer, around two bases, either all in or
alternatively by way of payment on account?
MR. MAJUMDAR: The figure of 18 all in is suggested from behind.
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: Thank you. Mr. Polley, attendance on colleagues is an
unusual item.
MR. POLLEY: My Lord, may I just take instructions very briefly. (Pause) My Lord,
what I can say about that is your Lordship will see that category includes a number
of things. Attendances on the court includes, for instance, being at this hearing
which was, at one stage, scheduled to take an entire day. So there are a couple of
hours in that respect. Attendances on colleagues involves internal discussions
within my instructing solicitors, Nabarro, about the case. It is impossible at this
stage to get a detailed breakdown.
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: Between the people named.
MR. POLLEY: Yes, for instance Mr. Warne speaking to Mr. Taplin or whatever. My
Lord, I think that is all I can helpfully say on the material in front of me. In
relation to attendances on documents, very briefly, without seeing my learned
friend’s costs schedule it is very difficult to know what the sensible comparator
would be. In relation to photocopying and binding, I am told that is what it cost us,
my Lord, as simple as that. The suggestion that £18,000 which is less than half, is
the appropriate measure on an indemnity basis in a claim of this magnitude is --
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: An option: £35,000 all in or £25,000 on account?
MR. POLLEY: My Lord, I will just take instructions. (Pause)
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: A good example of a discussion between colleagues.
MR. POLLEY: My Lord, this is a discussion with a client in fact; this is attendances on
clients!
MR. JUSTICE DAVID STEEL: I see. (Pause)
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