£5,780,597.30 amount that the government is seeking to recover from Hugh James

Question 98 (Mr Richard Bacon): How much the Department expects to recover from each of the 10 organisations in Appendix 7, and how much each of them has paid so far



http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmpubacc/350/7102210.htm


The table below sets out the total amount that the Department is seeking to recover from the top 10 claimants' representatives[24] and the amounts recouped as at 2 November 2007. As at 2 November 2007, the Department has received £18.9 million and has a further £31.8 million to recover.

Ranking Solicitor Total Debt (including interest) Total Debt Recovered (incl. off set and write off) Total Outstanding Debt
1 Thompsons £5,171,007.97 £3,449,270.05 £1,721,737.92
2 Beresford £13,816,568.20 £2,374,269.16 £11,442,299.04
3 Hugh James £5,780,597.30 £0.00 £5,780,597.30
4 Raleys £5,442,336.63 £5,442,336.63 £0.00
5 Browell Smith & Co £4,210,965.91 £4,210,965.90 £0.01
6 Mark Gilbert Morse £1,168,813.14 £1,168,813.14 £0.00
7 Avalon £8,537,854.68 £311,261.49 £8,226,593.19
8 UDM £2,342,039.83 £52,405.46 £2,289,634.37
9 Watson Burton LLP £2,447,613.47 £87,737.64 £2,359,875.83
10 Graysons Solicitors £1,796,473.44 £1,796,473.44 £0.00
£50,714,270.57 £18,893,532.91 £31,820,737.66





Avalon, ranked 7 in the table above, is contesting the Department's entitlement to recoup any money. As they are not members of the Claimant Group (CG), Avalon argues that the Court Order[25] is not binding on them. A Court Hearing to resolve this issue has been scheduled for w/c 26 November 2007. In the meantime the Department is beginning to recover the debt via a set-off arrangement of fees for claims due to the firm.