A claim for damages for professional negligence is settled on terms that the defendant surveyor must pay to the claimant damages of £60,000 together with the claimant’s legal costs, to be assessed on the standard basis.

In 2018 the claimant had entered into a written conditional fee agreement with her solicitor which provided for a success fee of 90%. The solicitor has calculated his professional charges at £20,000 before addition of the success fee and VAT.

What sum may the solicitor charge the client for his professional fees, net of VAT?