Burrows v Macpherson & Kelley Lawyers (Sydney) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 148

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Burrows v Macpherson & Kelley Lawyers (Sydney) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 148 Hearing dates: 19 February 2021 Decision date: 16 July 2021 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [20]; White JA at [140]. Decision: In proceeding 2020/17047: 1. Dismiss the appeal as incompetent. 2. Ms Burrows to pay the respondents' costs. In proceeding 2020/219817: 1. Grant leave to appeal, confined to proposed grounds 13.2 and 14, and otherwise dismiss the summons filed on 27 July 2020. 2. Dispense with the need to file and serve a notice of appeal limited to proposed grounds 13.2 and 14. 3. Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: COSTS - "Chorley" exception - client sued former solicitor for negligence in failing to enforce a favourable costs order in Family Court proceedings - former solicitor represented by incorporated legal practice which was its sole shareholder - whether District Court erred in dismissing client's action for negligence - former solicitor sought gross sum costs order - whether District Court erred in failing to grant second adjournment - whether District Court erred in making gross sum costs order - whether former solicitor to be equated with incorporated legal practice which represented it Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56, 60 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 98, 3 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Family Law Rules 2004 (Cth), Schedule 3, rr 18.08, 19.21 Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW), ss 47J, 202, 206, 208F, Pt 11, Pt 3 Div 2A Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Amendment (Incorporated Legal Practices) Act 2000 (NSW) Legal Profession Amendment (Incorporated Legal Practices) Act 2000 (NSW) Legal Profession (Solicitor Corporations) Amendment Act 1990 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform General Rules 2015 (NSW), Pt 3.7 Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (Vic) Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 6, 32, 38, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, Pts 3.2, 3.7 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Cases Cited: Al-Shennag v Statewide Roads Ltd [2008] NSWCA 300 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Uren (1966) 117 CLR 185; [1966] HCA 37 Bechara trading as Bechara and Company v Bates [2016] NSWCA 294 Bell Lawyers Pty Ltd v Pentelow [2019] HCA 29; 93 ALJR 1007 Cachia v Hanes (1994) 179 CLR 403; [1994] HCA 14 Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd v Best (1990) 170 CLR 516; [1990] HCA 53 Condensing Vaporisers Aust Pty Ltd trading as RJ Tinker & Son v FDC Construction & Fitout Pty Ltd (No 2) (2014) 86 NSWLR 360; [2014] NSWCA 89 Coshott v Spencer [2017] NSWCA 118 Crosby v Fica (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 632 Electrolux Home Products Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309; [2004] HCA 40 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49; [1999] HCA 67 FPM Constructions v Council of the City of Blue Mountains [2005] NSWCA 340 Gammage v The Queen (1969) 122 CLR 444; [1969] HCA 68 Gazecki v McCabes Lawyers Pty Ltd (2020) 102 NSWLR 259; [2020] NSWCA 98 Gifford v Strang Patrick Stevedoring Pty Ltd (2003) 214 CLR 269; [2003] HCA 33 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 70 Harris v Digital Pulse Pty Ltd (2003) 56 NSWLR 298; [2003] NSWCA 10 Hunter Area Health Service v Marchlewski (2000) 51 NSWLR 268; [2000] NSWCA 294 James Hardie & Co Pty Ltd v Hall (1998) 43 NSWLR 554 Maund v Crown in right of the State of New South Wales [2013] NSWCA 226 McIlwraith v Ilkin (Costs) [2007] NSWSC 1052 Mondelez Australia Pty Ltd v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union [2020] HCA 29; 94 ALJR 818 New South Wales v Commonwealth (2006) 229 CLR 1; [2006] HCA 52 Pentelow v Bell Lawyers Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 150 PM Works Pty Ltd v Management Services Australia Pty Ltd trading as Peak Performance PM [2018] NSWCA 168 Prest v Petrodel Resources Ltd [2013] 2 AC 415; [2013] UKSC 34 Re Pacific Coal Pty Ltd; Ex parte Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2000) 203 CLR 346; [2000] HCA 34 The Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 The London Scottish Benefit Society v Chorley (1884) 13 QBD 872 United Petroleum Australia Pty Ltd v Herbert Smith Freehills [2020] VSCA 15 Wilkie v Brown [2016] NSWCA 128 Texts Cited: A Burrows, "The Relationship Between Common Law and Statute in the Law of Obligations" (2012) 128 Law Quarterly Review 232 C Witting, Liability of Corporate Groups and Networks (Cambridge University Press, 2018) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Zali Burrows (Applicant) Macpherson & Kelley Lawyers (Sydney) Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Melinda Di Condio (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Winfield (Applicant) D Neggo (Respondents)