In a recent decision from the High Court, an application by Payone GmbH (a Worldine SA company) to bypass the detailed assessment process was firmly rejected.
What is Detailed Assessment?
It’s the formal court process where a party awarded legal costs must provide a full, itemised bill showing what was charged and why. The other side can challenge those figures, and the court decides what the final bill will be. It’s a safeguard to ensure costs are transparent. In this scenario Payone will be required to file a Bill of Costs by 25th June 2025, disclosing the time spent, hourly rates charged, roles of those involved, and any supporting records beteen Orrick and Payone.
The Court held that there was “force” in the Defendant’s claim that Payone sought to circumvent the proper assessment process and that the defendant was entitled to see a full breakdown of the costs claimed. The ruling reaffirmed a central principle: costs must be transparent and open to scrutiny, especially when large sums are involved.
Notably, the Court ordered Payone to pay the defendant’s costs of the failed application.
The case highlights the value of procedural fairness, especially for litigants in person facing complex litigation. A redacted version of the order is available here:
This post references a publicly available High Court order. Any commentary is limited to facts on the court record and is shared in the interest of open justice and procedural transparency. Loopline Media have invited Payone to comment on the contents of this article but they have declined.
