Leigh Day Cleared of All Charges After Longest SDT Hearing in History — SRA Pays £1m in Costs
Leigh Day and three solicitors faced 19 charges over Iraqi civilian claims linked to the £31m Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. After a seven-week hearing — the longest and most expensive SDT case ever — the firm was cleared of all charges. The SRA’s High Court appeal was dismissed. The SRA spent £3.1 million and was ordered to pay Leigh Day approximately £995,000 in costs. The firm spent roughly £7 million on its defence. Sources Legal Cheek: Iraq torture case: Leigh Day cleared of ALL misconduct Law Gazette: Leigh Day in the clear as High Court throws out SRA appeal Legal Futures: SRA pays Leigh Day £1m in costs
Dieselgate Costs Slashed — Court Calls £208m Claimant Budget ‘Absurd’
In the Pan-NOx Emissions Litigation (13 GLOs, 1.6 million claimants, £6 billion claim), the High Court described claimant solicitors’ costs estimates as “absurd,” “eye-watering,” and “redolent of financial incontinence.” Firms including Leigh Day, Pogust Goodhead, Milberg London, and KP Law submitted a £208 million budget slashed by nearly 75% to £52 million. The court noted claimant counsel was charging £440,000 per week while solicitors charged £1 million per week. Sources Law Gazette: 'Absurd' £208m claimant costs budget slashed by three-quarters Global Legal Post: High Court slashes 'staggering' £343m costs budget
