An Update on Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025]

Since my last article, there have been further developments in the Mazur case.

CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) have appealed against the ruling in Mazur, with the first day of the hearing being held on Monday 23^rd February.

The case was originally listed for a hearing no earlier than February 2027; however the appeal was fast tracked to this week due to the large public interest and significant implications this case has on the legal profession.

Appeal by CILEX:

The decision is Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP had a profound impact on the legal profession and significantly affected CILEX members. As the organisation were not an original party to the proceedings they had only one route to go down to address the outcome of the case and challenge the decision, and on the 18^th November 2025 they requested an appeal.

CILEX outlined numerous reasons why they should be allowed to appeal the decision; these were:

• Delays in the courts (i) as judges query the status of some lawyers and (ii) through satellite litigation over costs.
• Delays in the administration of justice, as various government portals struggle with consequential updating.
• Lawyers losing their jobs.
• Firms and other organisations having to change their business models at considerable cost – which ultimately will be passed onto clients – and detriment to the competitiveness and speed of their services. In extreme cases, it could even affect the viability of their businesses.

CILEX made it clear that they were not seeking any action which would affect the outcome in relation to the costs awarded, but they were appealing to focus directly on the matters of principle.

The CILEX chief executive Jennifer Coupland stated: “CILEX was not invited to be heard as part of the original proceedings but we would like to be heard now. We believe that the issues, uncertainties and real-world impacts triggered by the judgment need to be fully ventilated through this appeal process.”

On the 25^th November 2025 CILEX were granted the right to appeal the decision by relying on the Court’s discretion to permit an appeal from an organisation adversely affected by the outcome.

This week:

The hearing is currently underway. CILEX is represented pro bono by Nick Bacon KC, who is well known for his costs work and professional disciplinary and regulatory practice, Iain Miller, a partner at Kingsley Napley, and Stephen Nelson, a senior associate at Kingsley Napley as well. Mr Miller is the general editor of Cordery on Legal Services and Mr Nelson was until recently the head of legal at the SRA.

An update on the appeal will be provided once judgement has been made.