Barrister’s lien

The recent case of Williamson & Williamson v Pay [2020] QSC 324 called into question whether, in a costs dispute between a solicitor and a barrister, a court can grant a barrister’s lien. This would allow a barrister to hold the property of a retaining solicitor pending payment of barrister’s fees. While the Supreme Court did not reject the possibility of a barrister’s lien, Justice Williams held that in principal a barrister’s lien does not differ from an equitable lien and granting of a barrister’s lien will wholly depend on the circumstances.