Financial Remedies Journal: VV v VV [2022] EWFC 46

VV v VV [2022] EWFC 4617 May 2022

Published: 18/05/2022 09:00

Polly Morgan | Case EditorPolly Morgan is the sole author of the textbook Morgan's Family Law (2nd edn, Oxford University Press 2024) as well as the author of a number of Law Society practitioner courses on family law. A Professor of Family Law at UEA Law School, Polly is also Director of the multi award-winning UEA Law Clinic. A solicitor and law firm co-founder, she now practises exclusively in the free family law advice clinic of Norfolk Community Law Service. She is one of four trustees of the Transparency Project, and a legal blogger.

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2022/46.html

Peel J.

Costs judgment following outcome of acrimonious and expensive financial remedy proceedings (summary here. W’s award included what H had paid already towards her legal costs (£400k) plus sufficient to discharge her outstanding legal costs (£237,000). H had been responsible for litigation misconduct, yet W’s conduct had been obvious and gross, depriving H of tens of millions of pounds.

W had beaten H’s offer, and H had beaten W’s offer by an even greater amount. Despite needs-based award to W, it was not unfair for her to contribute to H’s costs. H sought £450,000 in costs. W was ordered to pay £100,000, a sum that would have been higher had it not been for H’s own litigation misconduct.

National Archives link (pdf available).