Bhagat(1) v Cowley Hearne Solicitors

The High Court of Australia heard an appeal in *Bhagat v Cowley Hearne Solicitors*. The dispute concerned the alleged negligence of the respondent solicitors in failing to advise the appellant client of the risks associated with a particular course of action in litigation. The appellant claimed that this failure led to a less favourable outcome in the underlying proceedings.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the respondent solicitors had breached their duty of care to the appellant by failing to adequately inform her of the potential adverse consequences of proceeding with a particular interlocutory application. This involved determining the standard of care expected of a solicitor in advising a client on litigation strategy and the causal link between any alleged breach and the appellant's loss.

The High Court considered the established principles of professional negligence, particularly the duty of a solicitor to exercise reasonable care and skill in advising their client. Their Honours noted that a solicitor's duty extends to informing the client of all material risks associated with a proposed course of action, enabling the client to make an informed decision. The court examined the evidence presented regarding the advice given and the client's understanding of the risks, ultimately finding that the solicitors had not breached their duty of care. The appeal was dismissed.