SNR Denton has won a claim against former India group head Gauri Advani to reimburse the firm for costs it incurred as co-defendant in her 2009 bribery case.

Advani, who was struck off as a solicitor by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal earlier this month (3 April), has been ordered to pay a legal bill of almost £600,000 on behalf of legacy Denton Wilde Sapte and its insurer Travelers.

The ruling comes after Dentons and Travelers sued Advani in 2010 to reclaim the defence costs from a 2009 case brought by two former clients of Advani's in which she was alleged to have committed bribery.

Travelers covered all legal fees for the case, but claimed the money back on the basis that the insurance policy was invalid if a court found that the holder guilty of dishonest or fraudulent activity. Meanwhile, Dentons claimed that Advani had acted outside of the contract of her employment with the firm.

In its ruling, the High Court supported the claims of both the law firm and the insurer, entitling Travelers to a sum of £501,399 and Dentons £87,075, on the basis that Advani had contractually agreed to act honestly while associated with Dentons.

An SNR Denton spokesperson said: "The High Court has ruled in favour of SNR Denton and its insurers to recover their costs from Ms Gauri Advani, a former employee of the firm. The Court held that Ms Advani had acted dishonestly and outside the course of her employment in relation to events in 2002 that were the subject of earlier proceedings, brought unsuccessfully by third parties against the firm."

Clyde & Co represented Travelers and Dentons on the claim, instructing 4 New Square's Justin Fenwick QC and Clare Dixon. Meanwhile, Michael Collard of 5 Pump Court represented Advani, instructed by Essex law firm Akal Solicitors. Withers had initially defended Advani with a team led by litigation head Christopher Coffin.

The 2009 case saw two Indian travel agents sue Dentons and Advani after allegedly being advised by her to pay a £400,000 'deposit' to gain an exclusive UK travel deal arrangement for Air India, which never materialised after the sum was paid.

The claimants instructed Blake Lapthorn in that case, while Barlow Lyde & Gilbert represented Dentons and Kennedys acted for Advani, who did not give evidence. A judge ruled the case illegal after deciding that the claimants understood that the money could have only been a bribe rather than a deposit; however, the High Court found this irrelevant in light of Dentons' claim against Advani.

Advani was head of India at Eversheds at the time of the 2009 court case after joining from Dentons in 2007. She left Eversheds in May 2010.