Royal Holloway and Bedford New College v QLaw Legal Services Limited

Facts

The claimant, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is the residuary beneficiary of the estate of Ms Margaret Anne Selby, who died on 20 November 2022 leaving a will dated 12 March 2020. By that will Ms Selby appointed as executors her friend Patricia Malcher and the directors, at the date of her death, of Quantick Daley Solicitors, a trading division of the defendant, QLaw Legal Services Limited. The reference was therefore to the directors of the defendant, and Mr Neil Quantick, its sole director, accepted and undertook the role of joint executor. The will contained no charging clause permitting the professional executors to render charges for acting as such. Between 24 January 2024 and 26 July 2024 the defendant rendered bills to the estate totalling £53,187.60 for Mr Quantick's services as professional executor, including a 'value' element of £18,592.20 billed on 24 April 2024. On 5 September 2025 the claimant applied under section 71(3) of the Solicitors Act 1974 for an order for the assessment of those bills. On 18 February 2026 Costs Judge Leonard ordered the assessment and directed that the defendant's right to receive remuneration for its professional services to the estate be determined as a preliminary issue. This is the judgment on that preliminary issue.