Author name: Simon Gibbs

Independent economists have criticised the government’s planned personal injury reforms on the basis the reforms would benefit insurers at the expense of consumers and taxpayers. The term “independent” is perhaps relative given they were instructed to review the reforms by the Law Society, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and Motor Accident Solicitors Society.  Here we […]

The run up to Christmas brought us a number of interesting costs developments. A decision from Master Rowley in the Senior Courts Costs Office throws new confusion onto the issue of proportionality.  In King v Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust he expressly disagreed with the decision of Master Gordon-Saker in BNM v

An excellent blog post from Kerry Underwood highlights the future problems faced by RTA lawyers as a result of the development of driverless cars.  It is clearly correct that this will lead to a massive drop in the number of RTA accidents with a major knock-on impact on claims work in this area.  As Kerry

The majority of industry news concerning the costs profession comes from the pages of Costs Lawyer magazine and the Association of Costs Lawyers’ regular email bulletins. Reading these gives the impression of a profession in glowing good health with announcements of firms opening new offices and regularly taking on new staff and recruiting key personnel.

Traditionally, the law has avoided applying hindsight when assessing the reasonableness of legal costs that have been incurred. However, when dealing with the issue of proportionality, hindsight has had a tendency to creep in.  If a matter settles for, say, £100,000, the issue of proportionality at detailed assessment has tended to be viewed in light

Watching the implementation process of the Jackson reforms has often been like witnessing a slow-motion car crash.  It has certainly been in slow-motion, with his original report being published all the way back in May 2009 and his final report being published in December 2009, but with elements still to be introduced and practitioners and

During the heyday of the costs negotiating industry, the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen, as it was, held discussions with a number of the major costs negotiating firms to explore the idea of employees of those firms joining the Association.  This was back at the height of the costs wars and before the introduction of

“May you live in interesting times” – Ancient Chinese curse Lord Justice Jackson has been appointed to look at options to extend fixed recoverable costs much more widely.  He has until 31 July 2017 to complete the review.  The review has been agreed with the government “and will inform its public consultation on proposed reforms,

There have been two decisions in quick succession from the Court of Appeal in relation to the operation of the various fixed fee regimes. Bird v Acorn Group Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 1096 was a public liability claim that was withdrawn from the portal due to the defendant’s failure to respond.  Liability was admitted by

The Costs Lawyer Standards Board has just issued a new client survey form.  Costs Lawyers are asked to print and issue to clients: “(i) Now for current clients; (ii) With your client care letter for new clients going forward; (iii) Once an instruction has completed (by way of reminder)”. A copy of the form can