Bell Lax acted for a client whose former partner brought a claim against her, seeking to recover in excess of £650,000. The former partner alleged that monies he had spent renovating and restoring properties with our client were a loan and not a gift. The Claimant’s claim was for the return of those monies which were allegedly loaned.
Our client’s position was that the parties had entered into a ‘joint venture’ for the purposes of purchasing, renovating and selling or renting various properties and any monies spent on those joint venture properties was for the benefit of both the Claimant and our client. Further, Bell Lax argued that our client was entitled to an account from the Claimant of any profits made from the joint venture properties.
Bell Lax were instructed just a few months before trial, yet disclosure had not taken place and witness statements had not been prepared.
On Bell Lax’s advice, our client pursued a counterclaim against the Claimant seeking payment on a quantum meruit basis for her time and expenditure in respect of the joint venture properties.
Bell Lax recognise that the cost of defending proceedings can sometimes be prohibitive. In this case, Bell Lax were able to offer our client a fee structure which minimised her total legal costs, whilst still being able to defend the claim.
Bell Lax settled this dispute shortly before trial on favourable terms for our client.
