Category: Uncategorized

10 Tips for Reducing Legal Costs by Expert Law Costs Draftsman

How did we reduce the Claimant’s Bill of Costs in a litigation matter by 48% in 60 days? We utilised our knowledge of technical and evolving areas of legal costs and advanced all possible arguments to dispute the costs claimed. This coupled with our tenacious approach to the costs negotiations, enabled us to reach a […]

What are the Roles of a Costs Draftsman in Funding Litigation?

The law and provisions surrounding certain methods of funding can be complicated, and there are technicalities that often prove to be a banana skin for lawyers, causing adverse and occasionally disastrous effects. We discuss how a costs draftsman can help to ensure that funding arrangements are fully in check and lawyers will be properly remunerated […]

Obtaining Interim Payments on Account of Costs During the Claim

In certain circumstances interim payments can be obtained during the substantive action. CPR 44.2(1) and (2) are drawn widely enough to allow the court to make an interim payment on account of costs during the proceedings. Upon partial discontinuance In the recent case of R.G. Carter Projects Limited v CUA Property Limited [2020] EWHC 3417 […]

Staged success fee in clinical negligence claim reduced over concerns as to the staging point

In Chocken v Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 3269 (QB) the High Court upheld a decision from the Senior Court Costs Office to assess the claimant’s solicitor’s success fee at 50% despite the CFA providing for it to rise to 80% upon service of proceedings as the claimant was always likely to […]

4 Tips for Maximising Recovery of Legal Costs

When asked how to maximise recovery of legal costs, most costs lawyers would say that time recording is crucial, and this should be supported by a well-documented file of papers with correspondence and attendance notes. That is absolutely true. Being able to present to the costs judge documentary evidence of the work undertaken will remove […]

A Round-Up of 2020 in Costs

Overview 2020 has been a year without parallel. Whilst every year typically has defining moments, 2020 has produced so many paradigm shifting events that have affected the entire world. In these challenging times, those in the legal costs arena have been able to adapt quickly to support our clients, colleagues and opponents. As a result […]

Copy of A Round-Up of 2020 in Costs [Extended]

Overview 2020 has been a year without parallel. Whilst every year typically has defining moments, 2020 has produced so many paradigm shifting events that have affected the entire world. In these challenging times, those in the legal costs arena have been able to adapt quickly to support our clients, colleagues and opponents. As a result […]

Swift v Carpenter & Another [2020] Costs Award

Swift v Carpenter and Another [2020] Costs LR 1547 following the long-awaited decision last month concerning accommodation claims in personal injury litigation. The judgment concerns Part 36 enhancements payable under CPR 36.17(4) in respect of interest on damages and costs where the Claimant / Appellant had beaten her own Part 36 offer. In summary: The […]

High Court Guidance on the Making of Issue-Based Costs Orders

We previously considered the different costs orders available to the court in our article Costs Orders Available to the Court: Ensuring the Correct Order is Obtained. One of the orders on the menu are issue-based costs orders, whereby the paying party will pay the receiving party’s costs in relation to specific issues addressed during the […]

Damages-Based Agreements: Key Costs Considerations

Following a recent article posted by Litigation Futures regarding the increasing demand of clients wanting to share risk by way of damages-based agreements (DBAs) in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we discuss the circumstances in which the utilisation of DBAs is most appropriate and the key costs considerations. Statutory Framework of a Damages-Based Agreement From […]