Law digests: 15 May 2026

Costs

Friend v Friend Media Technology Systems Ltd [2026] EWHC 1056 (KB)

The King’s Bench Division determined the costs consequences following its earlier judgment dismissing the claimant’s application for summary judgment and strike-out. The claimant, a founder of the defendant company, had sought immediate judgment for £307,641.69 in legal fees pursuant to clause 19.4 of an investment agreement. The court had previously held that clause 19.4 was confined to reimbursement of non-contentious legal advice relating to interpretation and limited enforcement of transaction documents and did not extend to indemnifying litigation costs. The claimant’s application was therefore refused, as was the defendant’s application for reverse summary judgment. On the costs issue, the court held that the defendant was the overall successful party on the application, as the claimant failed to obtain any of the relief sought. However, the court recognised that the claimant succeeded on an important issue of contractual construction, as the court rejected the defendant’s narrow construction that clause 19.4 was confined to advice relating to entry into or variation