A judge has ruled that global law firm Dechert’s £16m legal costs estimate for its work with mining company Eurasian National Resources Corporation (ENRC) was ‘highly unrealistic’.

In an order handed down at the end of last month following a private hearing, Master Jason Rowley at the Senior Courts Costs Office said there was a discrepancy between Dechert’s estimates and the costs actually billed.

Dechert billed ENRC £16.3m for the work, but was accused of ‘systematic and gross overcharging’ over advice it gave. ENRC also claimed Dechert ‘failed to comply with its professional obligations’.

(Source – Law Society Gazette)