Charities Act 2011

112 Power to order assessment of solicitor’s bill

(1) The Commission may order that a solicitor’s bill of costs for business done for a charity, or for charity trustees or trustees for a charity, is to be assessed, together with the costs of the assessment—

(a) by a costs officer in such division of the High Court as may be specified in the order, or

(b) by the costs officer of any other court having jurisdiction to order the assessment of the bill.

(2) On any order under this section for the assessment of a solicitor’s bill—

(a) the assessment is to proceed,

(b) the costs officer has the same powers and duties, and

(c) the costs of the assessment are to be borne,

as if the order had been made, on the application of the person chargeable with the bill, by the court in which the costs are assessed.

(3) No order under this section for the assessment of a solicitor’s bill is to be made after payment of the bill, unless the Commission is of opinion that it contains exorbitant charges.

(4) No order under this section is to be made in any case where the solicitor’s costs are not subject to assessment on an order of the High Court because of—

(a) an agreement as to the solicitor’s remuneration, or

(b) the lapse of time since payment of the bill.