BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Yu Xiao [2024] NSWSC 922

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Yu Xiao [2024] NSWSC 922 Hearing dates: 10 July 2024 Date of orders: 30 July 2024 Decision date: 30 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: McGrath J Decision: Defendants to pay the plaintiff's costs as a gross sum (see [179]) Catchwords: COSTS – application by plaintiff for gross sum costs orders in main proceedings, contempt proceedings and application – main proceedings long running and involve serious and complex allegations of fraud – numerous costs orders on ordinary and indemnity basis – detailed evidence of costs and reductions – gross sum costs order in contempt proceedings conceded by defendants – whether plaintiff is entitled to costs before commencement of main proceedings – no discount to be applied for gross sum costs in main proceedings but discount applied for gross sum costs for application – HELD – gross sum costs orders awarded Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 98, 101 Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ahern v Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWCA 39 Baychek v Baychek [2010] NSWSC 987 BCEG Australia v Xiao [2020] NSWSC 1234 BCEG Australia v Xiao (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1403 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao [2021] NSWSC 1027 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao [2021] NSWSC 1545 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao (2022) 162 ACSR 601; [2022] NSWSC 972 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao [2022] NSWSC 972 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao [2023] NSWSC 6 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao [2023] NSWSC 57 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1102 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1221 BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao (No 3) [2023] NSWSC 554 Hamod v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Hancock v Rinehart (Lump Sum Costs) [2015] NSWSC 1640 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738; [2002] NSWCA 213 Huang v Wei (No 4) [2023] NSWSC 164 Penson v Titan National Pty Ltd (No 3) [2015] NSWCA 121 Wallis v Rudek [2020] NSWSC 1618 Xiao v BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd (2023) 111 NSWLR 132; [2023] NSWCA 48 Xiao v BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWCA 87 Category: Costs Parties: BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd (Plaintiff/ Applicant) Yu Xiao (First Defendant/Respondent) Yan Ying Chen (Second Defendant/Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Williams SC and N Riordan (Plaintiff/Applicant) B Le Plastrier and S Steinhoff (First and Second Defendants/Respondents)