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These are the type of headline hourly rates that bring the whole profession into disrepute. One wonders whether the charging rates were set at a high level taking into account the possibility of the court ultimately reducing them . If the case lawyers had charged one half of the hourly rates submitted for assessment the court may have still reduced them albeit not by as much.
Those lawyers who engage regularly in contentious litigation are surely aware of the current antipathy shown by the courts towards excessive charges so may provide in advance for such a contingency by warning clients and advisors accordingly.