Ricky Cella reports on the new guideline hourly rates and their implications for firms – particularly those outside of London.
The Civil Justice Council (CJC)’s final report on guideline hourly rates (GHR) was published on 30 July 2021. The Master of the Rolls subsequently accepted the CJC’s recommendations and requested they be implemented. It is expected the revised guide to the summary assessment of costs will be in use as of 1 October 2021.
The former GHR
Before the introduction of the new rates, the GHR were last fixed in 2010, although there was a review in 2014 which resulted in no changes being made. The practical usefulness of the GHR has therefore declined as the gap between them and real retainer rates has steadily grown.
A fundamental idea underpinning the GHR regime has been that a firm’s geograph...
“As a further alternative, one can conceive of a hybrid approach, with increased focus on type of work, but with loose geographical bands being maintained.”
