Costs Services

We have an experienced team of lawyers who have significant experience of dealing with Fast Track, Multi Track and International Arbitration costs matters regularly dealing with costs claims in excess of £1 million.

The team is led by Partner Tim Riordan. He led the Defendant Group in the Civil Justice Council mediation for fixed costs in pre-issue and litigated NIHL claims which involved the lead insurers in the EL/PL market, the Bar Association and presided over by Sir Alan Ward. He was also instrumental in ensuring retention of NIHL claims within the Low Value EL/PL Protocol leading to potential savings of several million pounds for his lead client and is centrally involved in the current costs consultations in civil justice reform.

We have been instrumental and lead the way on costs litigation to include involvement in test cases on fixed portal costs avoidance, success fees for NIHL, CFA and Notice to Cancel, level of ATE premiums, QOCS and importantly Bills of Costs following costs budgeting.

We offer a “cradle to grave” service on all costs issues from setting effective strategies on costs pre issue of proceedings through to Precedents H and R and also post judgment matters and Detailed Assessment.

The team is dedicated to achieving excellent results and efficient working practices. Being based in Sheffield we can offer competitive charging rates. We always have the client’s interest forefront in our minds when dealing with costs.

Facts and figures

• The team has handled over 1000 costs matters.
• On opposing bills of costs, for every £1 spent on our fees, we save the client on average £3.22 from the opponent’s bill.
• Average saving as against opponent’s bills of costs are 42%.
• We average 85% recovery of costs to the sums claimed on bills we draw.

We provide support across the entire range of costs work, including:

• Drafting Bill of costs – including completed N252
• Setting costs budgets in individual and Group Litigation
• Schedules of costs (and Precedents H, R & T)
• Statements of costs for interlocutory hearings
• Costs estimates
• Points of Dispute
• Points of Reply
• Negotiations
• Advice on Technical Issues
• Part 8 Costs Only Claim Forms
• Applications for costs
• Provisional and Detailed Assessments
• Supporting and attending CMCs and final hearings

Our approach

• We ensure a practical approach with commercial considerations maximising the recovery or minimising the payment of costs.
• We deal with cases fairly and on their merits applying a firm approach to costs.
• We are flexible and innovative, staying ahead of the curve, for example, the drafting of budget comparison forms which have now been adopted by the CPR.
• We put the client’s needs first marrying our specialist costs knowledge with the matter and client knowledge of the case handling team.
• We have been instrumental and lead the way on costs litigation to include involvement in test cases on fixed portal costs avoidance, success fees for NIHL, CFA and Notice to Cancel, level of ATE premiums, QOCS and importantly Bills of Costs following costs budgeting.
• The use of IT, including costs spreadsheets, bill drafting programs and budget tracking tools.