The Judiciary's Guide for Solicitors' Hourly Rates to Increase: Higher Costs Recoverable

The Law Society of Hong Kong (“the Law Society”) announced to its member in a circular on 11 December 2017 that the Solicitors' Hourly Rates (SHR) on party and party taxation in civil proceedings will be increased, effective from 1 January 2018 onwards. While the SHR does not govern the fees charged by solicitors to their clients (which is a matter to be agreed between them), this will mean that the winning party of an action can recover a higher sum of legal costs for work done by their solicitors from the losing party. The existing rates will continue to apply for work done by solicitors up to 31 December 2017.