Guideline hourly rates (GHR) for civil costs increased again
HM Courts & Tribunals Service recently announced that rates will increase immediately across the board. This is the third year in a row that there has been an uplift. Sir Geoffrey Vos had previously indicated that rates should be subject to yearly reviews and it appears this is now being implemented.
Published: January 6th, 2026
2 min read
Grade A fee-earners in central London can now expect to receive £579, an increase of 2.3%. The GHR for Grade B fee-earners in London is £393, Grade C is £305 and Grade D £210.
National rates have all risen by at least 2%, with all Grade C fee-earners now receiving more than £200 no matter where they are based. The new rates can be accessed on the Gov UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/solicitors-guideline-hourly-rates#full-publication-update-history
Firms will no doubt be reviewing their retainers in light of the increases – although it should be noted that the GHRs are neither binding on parties nor automatically awarded. It’s often thought they can only be altered upwardly in appropriate cases, but it is possible to argue of course that in a simple straightforward claim the guideline rates should be reduced. The change does not alter the position that clear and compelling reasons are required to recover rates that either exceed or reduce the guidelines. Claimants will continue to argue that for higher-value and more complex cases the GHRs are not appropriate and should be upwardly adjusted.
It should also be remembered that costs in any event should be reasonable and proportionate, and, in some cases, overall costs can and will be reduced, even if accurately based upon reasonable hours claimed at the appropriate guideline rate, if found to be disproportionate to the nature of the claim and/or to the amount recovered.
For further information please contact John Myles
