In Taheri Law Group v. Neil C. Evans, case no. B192828 (2d Dist. Feb. 26, 2008), the Court of Appeal holds that the attorney fee provision in the anti-SLAPP statute (Code Civ. Proc., ยง 425.16) does not entitle a self-represented attorney to recover fees for bringing a successful anti-SLAPP motion.
This is merely an extension of the similar holding in Trope v. Katz (1995) 11 Cal.4th 274, which held that a self-represented attorney could not recover fees under a contractual fee provision. The Taheri court makes clear that an attorney-client relationship is necessary before fees may be recovered.
The identical issue of anti-SLAPP attorney fees was treated in much greater detail, and with the same result, in a 2004 decision by the same district (but different division) of the Court of Appeal. That decision was depublished when the Supreme Court granted review on a different issue. But you can find the case in the California Reporter (at least on Westlaw), and I recommend doing so if you are interested in a more detailed rationale than the Taheri opinion provides. Soukup v. Stock (2004) 15 Cal.Rptr.3d 303.
It would be a mistake to extrapolate from Taheri and Trope that fees are not recoverable in every situation in which they are not actually “incurred.” Regular readers will remember that when it comes to attorney fees, “incurred” doesn’t always mean “become obligated to pay” for. Courts have awarded fees in pro bono cases under fee shifting statutes, and will probably do the same someday under a contractual fee provision. As Taheri notes, the touchstone for recovery is an attorney-client relationship.