Author name: Simon Gibbs

Patrick Allen, writing in the New Law Journal, commenting on the Jackson reforms: “Many smaller PI firms are closing, selling their cases at a discount to their WIP or being taken over. Firms are being hoovered up by the mega firms such as Slater Gordon. … If firms do have cash this is because they […]

Notice received from court: “Take notice that the provisional assessment will take place on 7 February 2014 at 2:30pm at X County Court when you should attend 90 minutes has been allowed for the provisional assessment NB – No parties are to attend the provisional assessment hearing” That’s clear then.  

Claimant serves costs budget totalling £100,000. Defendant serves costs budget totalling £20,000. Defendant’s budget is, unsurprisingly, not disputed and approved by the court. Claimant’s budget is, unsurprisingly, hotly disputed and is dealt with at a costs management hearing. PD 3E para.2.2 states: “Save in exceptional circumstances – (1) the recoverable costs of initially completing Precedent

Practice Direction 3E – Costs Management, paragraph 2.2(1): “the recoverable costs of initially completing Precedent H shall not exceed the higher of £1,000 or 1% of the approved budget” Which of the following is included within the cap: 1. One hour discussion with the client explaining the figures within the budget and the costs consequences

The Association of Costs Lawyers recently announced the appointment of its first professional chief executive officer. The ACL announcement stated: “He will act as the focal point of the ACL’s campaign, highlighting the importance of solicitors using only fully qualified and regulated costs specialists in the costs management era.” It is interesting that the broader

Claim with total value of £1.1 million. The claimant’s costs budget was in the sum of £821,000 odd together with VAT and the defendant’s cost budget was in the sum of £616,000. Case management hearing devoted solely to costs management. Judge concludes that the costs shown in the costs budgets are disproportionate and unreasonable. Judge

I was recently contacted by a company in Pakistan offering to prepare schedule of costs and Bill of costs. Apparently they have worked for several UK legal costing services. My first thought was how do they deal with the logistics of obtaining the solicitors’ file of papers? Then it dawned on me. All these schedules

The mantra currently running through the legal profession is: “Get big, get niche or get out.” This is a big issue in the field of personal injury with the advent of ABSs. This view is not universally held, there are those such as Kerry Underwood who passionately believe in the traditional law firm model. Nevertheless,

The former chief whip Mr Mitchell is suing the Sun newspaper for reporting that he called police officers “plebs”. It has now been announced that Toby Rowland, the police officer at the centre of the row, is in turn to sue Mr Mitchell for libel, presumably on the basis that Mr Mitchell wrongly said the

The Jackson reforms have led to a significant increase in fixed fees in personal injury litigation. The judiciary has already made threatening noises that if the Jackson reforms do not work it may be necessary to scrap the current hourly rates system entirely. But, who would have thought that the threat would come from within?