Court of Appeal upholds a High Court decision denying a solicitor's application for a review of a Taxing Master's assessment of his bills of costs, where the Taxing Master had significantly reduced the solicitor's fees by more than €750,000, finding them to be excessive and unreasonable, on the grounds that the Taxing Master was entitled to assess the nature and value of the work done, and that any agreements on fees did not preclude such an assessment.
Taxing Master - solicitor and client taxation - excessive fees - jurisdiction - voluntary payment - conclusive presumption - Order 99 Rule 11(3) RSC - section 27(1) & (2) of the 1995 Act - review of taxation - High Court - Court of Appeal - legal costs adjudication - Solicitors (Ireland) Act 1849 - Solicitors Remuneration Act 1881 - Attorneys and Solicitors Act 1870 - Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 - Order 99 (Recast) - fair and reasonable fees - assessment of work - client approval - evidence - appeal dismissed.