EU Court Orders Reduced Legal Fees Payment to Qualcomm
Court Decision on Legal Fees
Europe’s second-highest court has ruled that EU regulators must pay over 785,000 euros to Qualcomm in legal fees, significantly less than the 12 million euros initially sought by the U.S. chipmaker. This follows Qualcomm winning an appeal against an antitrust fine from the European Union.
Qualcomm’s Legal Costs Claim
Qualcomm submitted its legal bill to the European Commission after the General Court sided with the U.S. company in its legal battle against a 997 million euro antitrust fine imposed in 2018. However, the European Commission disputed the amount sought by Qualcomm, stating it should be around 405,000 euros.
Court’s Rationale
The General Court deemed Qualcomm’s legal fees claim as “manifestly excessive,” citing concerns over the number of hours worked and the hourly rates utilized in the claim. The court highlighted that the amounts claimed by Qualcomm were not adequately substantiated based on the complexity and significance of the case.
Judges’ Verdict and Outcome
In a ruling, judges emphasized that the total number of hours worked and the related hourly rates should be justified based on the actual tasks performed during the legal proceedings. The court settled the total fee for Quinn Emanuel law firm at 754,190 euros and 31,667.54 euros for economic consultancy Compass Lexecon/FTI.
Legal Case Details
The legal dispute between Qualcomm and the European Commission is identified as T‑235/18 DEP Qualcomm vs European Commission. This ruling sheds light on the intricacies of international legal battles and the considerations taken into account when determining legal fees.
Financial Implications
With Qualcomm’s reduced legal fees payment obligation, the case showcases the complexities and nuances of antitrust fines and legal proceedings between international entities. The decision highlights the meticulous scrutiny applied to legal billings and the importance of justifying costs effectively.
$1 equals 0.9228 euros.
