Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990

36 Solicitors' and counsel’s fees

(1) An advocate and the person instructing him may agree, in relation to a litigation undertaken on a speculative basis, that, in the event of the litigation being successful, the advocate’s fee shall be increased by such percentage as may, subject to subsection (2) below, be agreed.

(2) The percentage increase which may be agreed under subsection (1) above shall not exceed such limit as the court may, after consultation with the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, prescribe by act of sederunt.

(3) After section 61 of the 1980 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“61A Solicitors' fees

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, and without prejudice to—

(a) section 32(1)(i) of the [1971 c. 58.] Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971; or

(b) section 5(h) of the [1988 c. 36.] Court of Session Act 1988,

where a solicitor and his client have reached an agreement in writing as to the solicitor’s fees in respect of any work done or to be done by him for his client it shall not be competent, in any litigation arising out of any dispute as to the amount due to be paid under any such agreement, for the court to remit the solicitor’s account for taxation.

(2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to the court’s power to remit a solicitor’s account for taxation in a case where there has been no written agreement as to the fees to be charged.

(3) A solicitor and his client may agree, in relation to a litigation undertaken on a speculative basis, that, in the event of the litigation being successful, the solicitor’s fee shall be increased by such a percentage as may, subject to subsection (4), be agreed.

(4) The percentage increase which may be agreed under subsection (3) shall not exceed such limit as the court may, after consultation with the Council, prescribe by act of sederunt.”.

(4) In section 33 of the [1986 c. 47.] Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel who have provided services under that Act) there shall be added at the end the following subsection—

“(6) It shall not be competent, in any litigation arising out of any dispute as to the amount of—

(a) any fees or outlays to be paid to a solicitor; or

(b) any fees to be paid to an advocate,

under or by virtue of this Act, for the court to remit the account concerned for taxation.”.