Victory comes at a multimillion dollar cost for Mike Lynch

Besides any effects the 13-year legal battle may have had on his welfare, Dr Lynch’s freedom has come at a huge financial cost, Business Weekly can reveal.

Other than the bail bonds Dr Lynch was forced to take out ahead of the trial there is no provision to recoup associated costs – legal or otherwise. The outlay on items such as accommodation and security lie with him, we understand – and they would have cost Dr Lynch more than $2 million to date.

The amount he paid on legal costs has not been revealed but we are told there is no provision whereby Dr Lynch can claw them back.

Dr Lynch went on trial charged with 16 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy, but the securities fraud charge was dropped. There is a slim chance that this may be resurrected and the US court has to make a call on that outstanding count.

One source told us: “The US court could yet decide to move forward with that but it is vanishingly unlikely. A decision will be made on that next week.”

Dr Lynch is said to have no current plans to sue for damages having been found not guilty on all the other 15 counts and is still digesting the result and his options.

A UK civil case heard before his extradition, however, remains a massive bone of contention. Dr Lynch is likely to appeal the UK court’s decision to award damages to HP.

The parties continue to await the court’s decision on quantum – the monetary value the judge assigns to any loss deemed to have been suffered – on which both sides have stated their case.

The judge, Justice Hildyard, said in his original judgement that any damages would be ‘substantially less’ than the original HP claim. An independent expert acting for Dr Lynch has argued it should be zero.

HP has already reduced its claim for damages resulting from the acquisition from the original $5bn to $4bn. A final judgement is expected before the height of summer at which point Dr Lynch will decide what to do – but expect an appeal regardless.