Jefferis v Gells Pty Ltd trading as Gells Lawyers [2018] NSWDC 288

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Jefferis v Gells Pty Ltd trading as Gells Lawyers [2018] NSWDC 288 Hearing dates: 18 June 2018 – 19 June 2018; 22 August 2018 – 23 August 2018; 27 September 2018 Date of orders: 09 October 2018 Decision date: 09 October 2018 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: The parties are to bring in Short Minutes of Order within 14 days in accordance with these reasons. Catchwords: Contract – costs - legal fees allegedly owed to barrister by firm of solicitors pursuant to three costs agreements – alleged conditional costs agreements – whether costs agreements conditional – whether costs agreements fell within or outside the provisions of the Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) – consequences of falling outside the Act - waiver - estoppel – misleading or deceptive conduct

District Court – jurisdiction – jurisdiction of District Court in commercial matters – conflict of authority – whether bound by Court of Appeal decisions Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law (being Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2015 (NSW) Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: AA Tegel Pty Ltd v Madden (1985) 2 NSWLR 691 AAI Ltd v State Insurance Regulatory Authority (NSW) [2016] NSWCA 368 Abbott v Klein [2015] NSWDC 45 Agricultural and Rural Finance v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (NT) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Ashton v Pratt [2015] NSWCA 12 Australian Medico-Legal Group Pty Ltd v Claireleigh Mosman Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 218 Bond Corporation Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (1987) 14 FCR 215 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Caringbah Investments Pty Ltd v Caringbah Business & Sports Club Ltd (In Liquidation) [2016] NSWCA 165 Clare v Joseph [1907] 2 KB 369 Clutha Developments Pty Ltd v Barry (1989) 18 NSWLR 86 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1440 Con-Stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 244 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31; [1992] FCA 557 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Fabcot Pty Ltd v Port Macquarie-Hastings Council [2011] NSWCA 167 Ferella v Stomo [2017] NSWCA 268 Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473 Firebird Global Master Fund II Ltd v Republic of Nauru [2015] HCA 43; (2015) 258 CLR 31 Forsyth v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2007) 231 CLR 531 Gilles v Palmieri [2017] NSWCA 370 Keesing v Adams [2010] NSWSC 336 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Kowalczuk v Accom Finance Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 343 LSKF Holdings Pty Ltd v Shield Lifestone Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 129 Mahommed v Unicomb [2017] NSWCA 65 Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571; [1982] HCA 52 Mega-Top Cargo Pty Ltd v Moneytech Services Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 402 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation v Quinn [2016] NSWCA 338 Newell v De Costi [2018] NSWCA 49 Nova 96.9 Pty Ltd v Natvia Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1288 Owners Strata Plan No 57164 v Yau [2017] NSWCA 341 OXS Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2016] NSWCA 120 Pacific Brands Sport & Leisure Pty Ltd v Underworks Pty Ltd (2006) 149 FCR 395 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Prospect Resources Ltd v Molyneux [2015] NSWCA 171 Redowood Pty Ltd v Mongoose Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 32 Sapphire Suite Pty Ltd v Bellini Lounge Pty Ltd [2018] NSWDC 160 Sapphire Suite Pty Ltd v Bellini Lounge Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1366 Tallerman & Co Pty Ltd v Nathan's Merchandise (Vic) Pty Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 93 The NTF Group Pty Ltd v PA Putney Finance Australia Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1194 TMA Australia Pty Ltd v Indect Electronics & Distribution GmbH [2015] NSWCA 343 Watson v Foxman (2000) 49 NSWLR 315 Webster v Strang; Steiner v Strang [No. 2] [2018] NSWSC 1411 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 522; [2005] HCA 17 WKA Legal Pty Ltd v Gleeson [2018] NSWSC 318 Young v Salkeld (1985) 4 NSWLR 375 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Richard Jefferis (Plaintiff) Gells Pty Ltd trading as Gells Lawyers (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Doyle Gray and J Cook (Plaintiff) M Castle (Defendant)