Legal Costs

Implementation of the Jackson reforms was predicted by many to mean a dramatic drop in claim numbers. The Access to Justice Action Group predicted “there will be at least 25% fewer claimants”. Many scoffed at the idea the reforms would lead to a reduction in motor premiums. To date there has apparently been no reduction […]

PD 47 para.13.10 allows a party to vary their bill: “(1) If a party wishes to vary that party’s bill of costs, points of dispute or a reply, an amended or supplementary document must be filed with the court and copies of it must be served on all other relevant parties. (2) Permission is not

The Association of Costs Lawyers has published an excellent White Paper on the First Year of Costs Management. Unfortunately, it repeats the myth that costs budgeting means Costs Lawyers are the “quantity surveyors of the litigation world”. When a quantity survey puts a price on constructing a building, he knows the precise shape and size

Now that we are a year into the Jackson Reforms, where do we find ourselves? Strangely, not as far forward as we might have expected. A combination of the staggered introduction and transitional provisions to the extended Portals (not actually a Jackson reform, but the extension of fixed fees was a Jackson proposal) mean the

Different courts are introducing their own directions as to the provisional assessment process (and rewriting the rules in places). The Senior Courts Costs Office requests that the receiving party’s full file of papers is filed with the Court rather than just the limited documents provided for within the Practice Direction. This is a very sensible

The issue over late service of optional Replies in detailed assessment proceedings rumbles on. I cannot comment on whether the Senior Courts Costs Office has developed a “policy” line on this point (other than referring you to paragraph 19.5 of the Senior Courts Costs Office Guide 2013) but can report on a recent decision before

Online dating sites have made it easier than ever to meet intelligent, witty and attractive people. Unfortunately, they do not guarantee matching you up with people you share genuine interests with, especially if your only interest is costs law. The perils of office relationships act as their own barrier to finding love with those you

Request received this week from costs drafting firm: “We would be much obliged if you could provide to us your Points of Dispute on computer disk or by email pursuant to Costs Practice Direction 35.6, to enable us to prepare Replies”. Never let it be said that costs draftsmen do not keep up to date

Mr Justice Ramsey, speaking at the IBC Solicitors’ Costs Conference, suggested that under the new proportionality test parties should bear in mind that combined costs should not normally exceed the sum in dispute. We have been waiting for some helpful guidance on the new test and now we have it. If we assume that the

The Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) is somewhat in a state of disruption, and will be for the next couple of months, with refurbishment works being undertaken to the Thomas More Building (TMB) at the RCJ. Apparently this is part of a planned refurbishment of the Royal Courts of Justice to accommodate the arrival of