Legal Cost Specialists
My latest Update: Costs for Solicitors Journal is now available to view online. The “apportionment” subject is fraught with complexity and I won’t pretend this is meant to be a definitive analysis of the issue or that the two first instance decisions mentioned, where I was acting for the defendants, would necessarily be decided the […]
Unlawful and grotesque funding arrangement? Read More »
Robert Males, writing in New Law Journal, expressed the view that: “I believe the solicitor is the best person to deal with negotiation and settlement of costs. If the matter proceeds to assessment then while the costs draftsman may be perfectly capable of putting forward the technical arguments in terms of costs recovery the conducting
Costs draftsman v Solicitor Read More »
This month’s edition of Costs Lawyer magazine contains at article from the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen’s Chairman Iain Stark continuing the discussion on the issue, raised by an earlier article by District Judge Hill, of whether independent law costs draftsmen, who are not costs lawyers, are able to appear in court. (See my previous
The costs lawyer's office cat Read More »
This follows on from yesterday’s post concerning rights of audience of law costs draftsmen. You will need to read that first to avoid any confusion over what follows. (The ALCD was granted Authorised Body Status by The Association of Law Costs Draftsmen Order 2006 (S.I. 2006 no 3333) which came into force on 1st January
Rights of audience of law costs draftsmen – Part 2 Read More »
The following article will be of interest to the wider legal costs profession, those who instruct law costs draftsmen and particularly to independent costs draftsmen. I am aware that members of the judiciary also read the Legal Costs Blog. They are likely to find this article particularly useful as they are likely to see an
Rights of audience of law costs draftsmen – Part 1 Read More »
I previously expressed some concern as to whether those judges dealing with provisional assessments in the new Leeds assessment pilot would be sufficiently familiar with the minutia of legal costs law. Those concerns have been somewhat reduced as I understand that all the provisional assessments will be done by one of two Regional Costs Judges
Leeds provisional assessment pilot – Update Read More »
Now that we’ve all had the chance to consider the new rules for the County Court Provisional Assessment Pilot, which starts on 1 October 2010, lets make sure we are all familiar with the details. CPD 40.12 appears to continue to apply: The following provisions apply in respect of the papers to be filed in
County Court Provisional Assessment Pilot Read More »
Previously we considered whether the Leeds detailed assessment pilot (click link) would reduce the judicial and court time spent dealing with costs disputes. The new rules can be viewed here: County Court Provisional Assessment Pilot Scheme at Annex 2. The next issue is whether provisional assessment will reduce the costs to the parties. Those costs
Leeds assessment pilot – costs lawyer bonanza? Read More »
Yesterday we examined what amounts to a “competent” law costs draftsman from the receiving party’s perspective. Today we will look at this from the paying party’s view point. From the paying party’s perspective, the key criteria are similar as for a receiving party’s costs draftsman: 1. The ability to recognise that there may be problems
Law costs draftsmen and competency Read More »
The Association of Law Costs Draftsmen, when responding to concerns about the recent changes being made to the membership structure and qualification requirements, stated: “The rights which [the ALCD] will regulate include rights of audience and rights to provide legal services, and may in due course include the right to practise reserved legal activities. This
Competent law costs draftsmen Read More »