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Last week the Technology and Construction Court ordered Halabi, a Syrian-born entrepreneur, to pay Aukett 拢550,000 after he lost a court battle over three refurbishment jobs. Two were properties in London鈥檚 West End, including the former In & Out Club in Piccadilly, and the Mentmore Towers country house in Buckinghamshire.

Speaking after the architect announced its results for the year ended 30 September 2009, Thompson (pictured) said the payout would be boosted by 拢220,000 in interest and legal costs of 鈥渁t least 拢250,000鈥�. He said: 鈥淏asically, we鈥檒l be getting more than a million pounds and the judge has said we don鈥檛 owe Halabi anything.鈥�

The dispute began last year when Aukett launched legal proceedings against Halabi, claiming 拢1.6m in unpaid fees. Halabi issued a counterclaim that Aukett had failed to inform him of the departure of Jeremy Blake, the project architect on the jobs, until eight months after he left for a rival.

In July last year, Thompson was rebuked by the judge for failing to inform his client about Blake鈥檚 departure and last week the court settled on an award of 拢550,000 in unpaid fees after examining the work Aukett had done. Thompson said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e made provisions and if we were going to be left out of pocket as a listed company we鈥檇 have had to inform the City.鈥�

He described the case as 鈥渁 distraction鈥�, saying it was 鈥渁n unfortunate consequence of the decline in the property market鈥�.

The In & Out Club has since reportedly been put on the market with a price tag of 拢250m.

Aukett Fitzroy Robinson posted a 拢1.9m loss for 2009 as a result of the collapse of the commercial property market. The figure, which compares with a 拢2.4m profit in 2008, comes as turnover fell by a third to 拢15m. Debt stood at 拢1.4m, down from a cash position of 拢410,000 on 30 September 2008.

Chair Tim Hodgson said: 鈥淭o say that the group鈥檚 financial year was difficult would be an understatement.鈥�