Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd & Ross & Others (Civil Dispute)

Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd brought an application against the Respondents, Lydia Margaret Ross, Dr Jeffrey Maxwell Read, Susan Vivien Read, Sharon Yuh-Shyan Lim, and Ian Campbell McFarlane, before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ACAT) for the payment of outstanding legal fees. The application was brought following the termination of the legal retainer by Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd and the issuance of statements of account to the Respondents. The ACAT was required to determine whether the termination of the retainer was justified under the terms of the retainer agreements, and whether the Respondents were required to pay the fees. The ACAT found that the termination was justified and ordered the Respondents to pay the fees.

The key issue before the ACAT was whether the termination of the retainer by Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd was justified under the terms of the retainer agreements. The ACAT considered the terms of the retainer agreements, which allowed for termination if the Respondents failed to give proper and timely instructions, refused to follow the advice of Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd, or if the relationship between the parties had irretrievably broken down. The ACAT found that the Respondents had failed to give proper and timely instructions, had refused to follow the advice of Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd, and that the relationship had irretrievably broken down. The ACAT held that the termination of the retainer by Sneddon Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd was justified under the terms of the retainer agreements, and that the Respondents were required to pay the fees.