Legal Cost Specialists

November 2013

100% of damages

There was much fuss when the new portal fees were being proposed. Karl Tonks, previous president of APIL, said: “Lawyers cannot reasonably be expected to run cases at a loss. But if the proposed fees are implemented, the only alternative will be to turn claimants away or take legal fees from a claimant’s damages, which […]

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Guideline hourly rates for costs lawyers and law costs draftsmen

The Civil Justice Council’s Costs Committee is currently undertaking a review into Guideline Hourly Rates. As part of that process they are considering whether to introduce a further category of fee earner for costs lawyers and costs clerks (their term not mine). If this is done, will costs lawyers be placed in a higher category

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Disclosing privileged documents in detailed assessments

The Senior Courts Costs Office Guide 2013 correctly describes the approach to disclosure in detailed assessment hearings of potentially privileged documents: “If, having examined documents lodged with or produced to the court, the court is minded to determine a point of dispute wholly or partly in favour of the receiving party it does not automatically

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The future of litigation

Extract from Narrative to bill of costs: “Computer technology was utilised wherever possible. … The Claimants’ solicitors have tried to use novel and efficient ways of dealing with the claim. Wherever possible standard documents have been prepared including questionnaires and in some cases, standard letters. Meetings with the individual Claimants have been minimised. Pro-active use

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Costs budgeting data

Some excellent advice from Antony Smith of Legal Project Management Limited, writing in Litigation Funding: “Generally, estimating is best done when based on historical data of previous projects which are similar to that at hand. Lawyers are lucky here, as their practice management systems and/or case management systems should hold this kind of data. …

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