OpenLegal

Articles > Litigation

What are costs on an indemnity basis?

August 23, 2023   Maria MubeenPhilip Evangelou

Need help with Indemnity Costs?





    By submitting this form, you agree for OpenLegal to send you emails - you can unsubscribe at any time. View our Privacy Policy.

    Indemnity costs previously known as ‘Solicitor and Client costs’ are payments or compensation for damages that are incurred by a party during proceedings that may include but not limited to fees, expenses and remuneration. Provided that they are not unreasonable in nature.

    Book Your Free Legal 15 Minutes Consultation.

    What is meant by indemnity basis?

    Costs on an indemnity basis are made with this intention to indemnify a party. The principle of indemnifying means compensating a party for their loss. Indemnity costs are only awarded in certain circumstances some of which include:

    • If a party has incurred unnecessarily high expenses during proceedings 
    • If a party has made untrue allegations of fraud
    • Where there is evidence of misconduct by a party leading to loss of time to the court and the other party
    • Where a party has made baseless allegations and contentions

    How are costs assessed on the indemnity basis?

    The Civil Procedure Act 2005 gives courts the power to award costs. Section 98 allows the court to determine by which parties, to whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid. The court will generally exercise its power to order indemnity costs on the basis that contractual agreements provide a provision in which costs are to be assessed ‘plainly and unambiguously’. This means that costs in accordance with the contractual agreement will be construed on a standard basis unless it is plain and unambiguous that the costs required are on an indemnity basis.

    What is the difference between standard costs and indemnity costs?

    • Standard costs are costs that are necessary for the attainment of justice or for enforcing the rights of a party whose costs are being assessed. Standard costs will be the courts first starting position when costs are being assessed. These typically entitle a party to recover 50-66% of actual costs incurred. 
    • Indemnity costs are generally higher than standard costs and are only awarded under the courts discretion. Typically parties will be able to recover 90-100% of costs incurred through indemnity compensation. 

    Key takeaway 

    Generally courts will take the route of standard costs first however if there are circumstances under which indemnity costs are required the court will have complete discretion to order theses for any given party. 

    Book Your Free Legal 15 Minutes Consultation.

    About Maria Mubeen

    Avatar photoMaria is a legal intern at Openlegal and is currently in her third year studying Law and Business at UTS. Her interests are commercial law, contract law, and litigation.

    About Philip Evangelou

    phillipPhil is a director at OpenLegal. He has over 16 years experience working in private practice and in-house counsel in Sydney and London, giving him expertise in employment law, IP, finance, leases, dispute resolution, insurance and contracts.

    What lawyer do you need?