Legal fees row between Dunnes Stores and Eversheds sent to Commercial Court

A dispute between the solicitors firm Eversheds and Dunnes Stores over fees for professional services has been admitted to the Commercial Court.

Eversheds is seeking judgment for €1.1 m against Dunnes Stores over allegedly outstanding fees.

It is claimed Dunnes Stores retained the solicitors to act in connection with several contentious and non-contentious matters over the years.

Eversheds says Dunnes Stores’ failure pay the full amount of fees allegedly due has resulted in the lawyers exercising a solicitor’s lien over materials including planning documentation held on behalf of Dunnes Stores.

Eoin McCullough senior counsel for Eversheds, told Mr Justice Brian McGovern yesterday that, following discussion late last year, an agreement had been entered into for Dunnes Stores to pay Eversheds, by early February 2016, some €465,000 in respect of the fees at issue.

If payment was not made, Eversheds would be entitled to a payment of more than €900,000, plus Vat of €210,000 and disbursements of €20,000, he said.

Dunnes Stores had not paid the monies and Eversheds was now seeking judgment against Dunnes Stores of €1.1m, he said.

Mr Justice McGovern admitted the case to the Commercial Court after rejecting arguments by Martin Hayden, senior counsel, of delay on the part of Eversheds in seeking to have the case admitted.

Mr Justice McGovern found that there was no culpable delay.

The proceedings were adjourned to allow Dunnes Stores prepare a defence.