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Re anon at 15.02. I agree we need to define what we mean by overcharging here. It appears some of us commentating are at cross purposes.

As I understand it, a solicitor is perfectly free to set his (and his various grade of staff) charging rates at whatever he wants, whether that's £100p/h or £1,000 p/h. Those rates may not be reasonable in all of the circumstances, however, which is what detailed assessment is for - to assess the reasonableness of costs and it is important to note that the detailed assessment process seems to have worked effectively in that regard. The rates may (or may not depending on your point of view) be considered 'greedy' or 'ambitious' but it isn't 'wrong' per se to apply them to the work done and claim them in costs. To that extent, I cannot see how anyone could have a valid issue with the hourly rates claimed by Mr Good, provided they were consistent with his retainer.

What I consider to be overcharging, however, is charging rates in excess of those set out in the retainer, spending unjustified amounts of time on individual aspects of a case or, even worse, charging for work that hasn't been done at all. Those seem to me to be issues of honesty and integrity.