Will I Recover My Solicitor’s full Hourly Rate from my Opponent?

In most types of litigation, the loser is ordered to pay the winner's costs. The award of costs however rarely covers the full amount that has been spent, and one of the major factors in the difference is the hourly rate. For example although you may have agreed to be charged by your solicitor at, say, £200 per hour the award of costs might ultimately be calculated by the court at £150 per hour. If your case has involved 100 hours of work, that leaves you with a shortfall of £5,000 to be paid from your own pocket, even though you have been 100% successful in your claim.