Gallagher v Dobson - [1993] 3 NZLR 611

Law practitioners — Practitioner and client — Costs — Revision of bills of costs — Appeal to Registrar from revisors' decision — Review of Registrar's decision — Court's powers on review — Procedure on review — Whether appropriate to order full rehearing — Law Practitioners Act 1982, ss 145, 148 and 149.

Judicial review — Procedure — Appeal to Registrar from decision of revisors on law practitioners' costs — Review of Registrar's decision — Whether appropriate to order full rehearing.

Practice and procedure — Bias — Revision of law practitioners' costs — Appeal to Registrar against revisors' decision — Hearing informal — Registrar and counsel known to each other — Comments by Registrar before and during hearing — Whether Registrar's comments amounted in the circumstances to bias by predetermination.

Practice and procedure — Parties — Registrar's decision on appeal against revision of law practitioners' costs — Whether Registrar a proper party to review proceedings.