Solicitors Act 1974

72 Supplementary provisions as to [F1assessments].E+W

(1)Every application for an order for the [F2assessment] of a solicitor’s bill or for the delivery of a solicitor’s bill and for the delivery up by a solicitor of any documents in his possession, custody or power shall be made in the matter of that solicitor.

(2)Where a [F3costs officer] is in the course of [F4assessing] a bill of costs, he may request the [F3costs officer] of any other court to assist him in [F4assessing] any part of the bill, and the [F3costs officer] so requested shall [F5assess] that part of the bill and shall return the bill with his opinion on it to the [F3costs officer] making the request.

(3)Where a request is made as mentioned in subsection (2), the [F6costs officer] who is requested to [F7assess] part of a bill shall have such powers, and may take such fees, in respect of that part of the bill, as he would have or be entitled to take if he were [F8assessing] that part of the bill in pursuance of an order of the court of which he is an officer; and the [F6costs officer] who made the request shall not take any fee in respect of that part of the bill.

(4)The certificate of the [F9costs officer] by whom any bill has been [F10assessed] shall, unless it is set aside or altered by the court, be final as to the amount of the costs covered by it, and the court may make such order in relation to the certificate as it thinks fit, including, in a case where the retainer is not disputed, an order that judgment be entered for the sum certified to be due with costs.