May 2014

Susan Dunn of Harbour Funding writing in Costs Lawyer magazine: “We have had varied experiences with Costs Lawyers, who are a great help on detailed assessments and bill challenges at the end of cases. However, the profession has more to do in perfecting its approach to estimating how much a case is going to cost.” […]

I’ve just received Replies that seek to justify the time spent by the fee earner who prepared the Bill of Costs on the basis that they are a “Fellow of the Association of Costs Lawyers”. Since when did we start having those?

The Association of Costs Lawyers’ submissions to the Civil Justice Council on the impact of the Jackson reforms included: “One court is dealing with case management on one day and then costs budgeting on a second day. This seems to be appreciated as it enables budgets to be adjusted to meet the case management decisions.”

Lord Justice Jackson handed down yesterday an important decision on applications to extend time for serving points of dispute in Hallam Estates Ltd & Anor v Baker [2014] EWCA Civ 661. Master Gordon-Saker’s earlier sensible decision was reinstated. The judgment contains a helpful “executive summary” (more of these please in judgments): “In detailed assessment proceedings

District Judge Marshall Phillips commenting at the Association of Costs Lawyers’ Annual Conference on the £1,500 cap for provisional assessment, stated that he would normally allow less for a £15,000 bill than a £70,000 bill. This is sensible as the £1,500 is a maximum, not a minimum or fixed, amount.

Views from the panel discussion at the Association of Costs Lawyers’ Annual Conference: Master Campbell – late service of Replies, if they are helpful to the Court, may be allowed in. Master Gordon-Saker – Replies are “rarely helpful”. Regional Costs Judge Besford – Replies served late in provisional assessment cases might not be considered by

A reliable source at the Association of Costs Lawyers Annual Conference suggested that any movement in the new Guideline Hourly Rates is unlikely to be in an upwards direction. You heard it hear first. Or second if you were at the Conference. Or third if you had heard this before the Conference and attended the

The Association of Costs Lawyers held their Annual Conference last Friday/Saturday and it proved to be another excellent event. However, I do sometimes wonder whether I was listening to the same talks as everyone else. A long list of speakers commented on the rosy future for Costs Lawyers. Topics covered included progress with the new