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08 July 2026
Categories: Legal News , Media , Costs , Insurance / reinsurance
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Questions remain over bill following Associated Newspapers ruling

The Duke of Sussex and his co-claimants face a ‘potentially eye-watering legal bill’ of more than £50m, according to former costs judge at the Royal Courts of Justice, Colin Campbell

Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed their claims against Associated Newspapers this week. However, Campbell, consultant at Kain Knight, said: ‘The litigation is not yet over.’

Campbell said Associated Newspapers may seek to recover costs on an indemnity basis—reserved for cases where the court considers a party’s conduct has fallen outside the norm. If granted, it could recover ‘a substantially greater proportion of its legal costs because it would not have to satisfy the court that those costs were proportionate and necessary, only that they were reasonably incurred,’ he said.

‘In litigation of this scale, the difference could amount to a significant amount of money.

‘One important unanswered question is whether the claimants have after-the-event insurance in place, which is commonly used in high-value litigation to cover some or all of the legal costs a claimant may be ordered to pay if they lose. That is not currently known publicly, but it could become a significant issue as the proceedings move into the costs phase.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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