COST BITES 153: ANOTHER ROUND IN THE BREAKDOWN OF MEDICAL REPORT FEES ONGOING SAGA: THE INVOICE SHOULD PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN
I am grateful to Simon Fisher from DWF for providing me with a copy of the judgment of Senior Costs Judge Gordon-Saker in CXR -v- Dome Holdings Limited, a copy of the judgment is available here CXR v Dome…
COST BITES 152: A PARTY MUST PROVIDE A SCHEDULE OF COSTS FOR A HEARING, EVEN IF IT DOESN’T EXPECT TO GET PAID
The judgment of Mr Justice Roth in Scenic International Group Ltd v Adenaike & Ors (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 1178 (Ch) provides some important observations on the mandatory requirement for a party to produce a schedule of costs if it…
JOINING A SOLICITOR INTO AN APPLICATION, WITH A THREAT OF COSTS – LED TO THE APPLICANTS PAYING £45,000 IN COSTS
The case of Tonstate Group Ltd & Ors v Wojakowski & Anor [2024] EWHC 1196 (Ch) is a real world example of the dangers of joining a litigant’s firm of solicitors in an application, threatening to seek costs against them. …
MAKING ALLEGATIONS OF DISHONESTY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY LEAD TO AN ORDER FOR INDEMNITY COSTS: BUT IT MIGHT DO: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION
I am grateful to both Kevin Latham and Andrew Buchan for pointing out the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Thakkar & Ors v Mican & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 552. The court held that a judge had acted…
COST BITES 151: DOES QOCS APPLY TO DETAILED ASSESSMENT? YES IT DOES – BUT THE DEFENDANT HAS PERMISSION TO APPEAL
In Challis v Bradpiece [2024] EWHC 1124 (SCCO) Deputy Costs Judge Roy KC considered of whether a claimant had QOCS protection in detailed assessment. He concluded that the claimant continued to have costs protection. He accepted that the point was…
ARGUING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE BILL: ANOTHER ROUND IN THE DISCLOSURE OF AGENCY COSTS AND MEDICAL FEES WAR: CLAIMANT ORDERED TO COMPLY WITH PART 18 REQUESTS FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE INVOICE
I am grateful to Ben Millns from Kennedys for sending me a copy of the decision in Parsons -v- Stevens, a copy of which is available here. Deputy District Judge Fentem decided that it was appropriate to make an order…
REDUCING THE RISKS OF ADVERSE COSTS ORDERS IN CIVIL LITIGATION: WEBINAR 20th MAY 2024
A costs order against your client is always a painful event. This webinar looks at the best and safest means of litigating to avoid costs orders against a claimant. It covers areas relating to extensions of time, relief from sanctions…
COST BITES 150: WAS THIS A COMPLIANT STATUTE BILL (NO IT WASN’T): PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS BEWARE
In Hensley v Morris Law Ltd [2024] EWHC 1101 (SCCO) Costs Judge Rowley held that a bill provided by a claimant’s solicitor to their client was not a compliant bill. It is a judgment that emphasises the importance of the…
COST BITES 149: SOLICITORS ACT ASSESSMENT – WERE THESE STATUTE BILLS? (YES THEY WERE)
In Pickering v Thomas Mansfield Solicitors Ltd [2024] EWHC 1107 (SCCO) Costs Judge Brown found that a series of invoices rendered by the defendant solicitors were “statute bills”. He rejected an argument that the requirements for such bills had been…
COSTS – WHEN YOU SOMETIMES THINK THE WORLD HAS GONE MAD: SPEND £28,535 TO CHALLENGE AN ATE PREMIUM OF £392…
In Bendriss v Nicholson Jones Sutton Solicitors Ltd [2024] EWHC 1100 (SCCO) Costs Judge Rowley dismissed a claimant’s application for specific disclosure. One notable aspect of the application was that the claimant had spent £28,535 in respect of this one application in…
WHAT TO DO IF THE DEFENDANT MAKES AN EARLY PART 36 OFFER 2024 : WEBINAR 13th MAY 2024
The making of an early Part 36 offer can cause major problems for claimants and their lawyers. An understanding of the rules, the relevant cases and the steps that need to be taken when a Part 36 offer is made…
INCREASE IN COURT FEES FROM THE 1ST MAY 2024
Court fees increased from the 1st May. Details of all court fees increased can be seen here. The increases apply in family and tribunal proceedings in addition to civil cases. 172 court fees have been increased by 10%. Here we…
SILENCE IN THE FACE OF AN OFFER TO MEDIATE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON COSTS: ONCE AN OFFER TO MEDIATE IS MADE THE BALL IS IN THE RECIPIENT’S COURT
In Northamber PLC v Genee World Ltd & Ors (Rev1) [2024] EWCA Civ 428 the Court of Appeal reiterated certain key points about a party refusing to mediate. Silence in the face of an offer to mediate can have an…
COST BITES 148: THE JUDGE WAS RIGHT TO ORDER COSTS TO BE PAID IMMEDIATELY AFTER A TRIAL ON LIABILITY
In Lorimer-Wing v Hashmi [2024] EWHC 931 (Ch) Mr Justice Edwin Johnson upheld a decision that a defendant should pay costs forthwith following a trial of a preliminary issue at which the claimant was successful. “The difficulty which confronts…
PROCEDURE, DAMAGES, LIABILITY, COSTS AND LIMITATION: A SERIES OF WEBINARS THIS YEAR AIMING TO HELP AVOID OR DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IN LITIGATION
The issues arising from many of the cases looked at on this blog are being considered in a series of webinars starting later this month. The webinars cover many of the problem areas of litigation: what to do when things…
COST BITES 147: WHO IS THE SUCCESSFUL PARTY? WHAT SUMS SHOULD BE DEDUCTED FOR LOSING ON CERTAIN POINTS? DOES A CALDERBANK OFFER MATTER?
In South Tees Development Corporation & Anor v PD Teesport Ltd [2024] EWHC 842 (Ch) Mr Justice Rajah determined issues relating to the costs of an action where the defendant had been largely successful. A Calderbank offer from the Defendant,…
COST BITES 146: LITIGANT IN PERSON (USING DIRECT ACCESS COUNSEL) WAS TO FILE A COSTS BUDGET
In Cotham School v Bristol City Council & Ors (Ruling on Costs Budgeting) [2024] EWHC 824 (Ch) HHJ Paul Matthews (sitting as a High Court Judge) stated that a litigant in person was to provide a costs budget. The litigant…
COST BITES 145: AGENCY SHOULD PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF FIGURES FOR COST OF A MEDICAL REPORT: “ANY AJUDICATION ON PROPORTIONALITY, IN ALL ITS COMPONENT PARTS, DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY”
I am grateful to barrister James Miller for sending me a copy of the decision of HHJ Saggerson in Amini-Edu -v- Esure Insurance Company Ltd (8th March 2024). A copy of the transcript is available here. ENA AMINU-EDU COSTS JUDGMENT…
COST BITES 144: SUMMARY ASSESSMENT, REDUCED FROM £42,267 TO £22,000: A CASE IN POINT
One of the aims of this series is to look at costs issues that would not normally be examined. This is so practitioners can get a “feel” as to what actually goes on in court. A good example of this…
THE GUIDELINE HOURLY RATES: SEE THEM HERE: UPDATED FOR 2026 RATES
The Guideline Hourly Rates changed on 1st January 2026. These are set out below. The 2025 and 2024 rates can be found underneath. Guideline hourly rates 2026 (with previous year’s rates in brackets) Grade Fee Earner London 1 London 2…
COST BITES 143: JUDICIAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE COSTS OF FAMILY LITIGATION DISPUTES: KING LEAR IS A TRAGEDY AND ALL WILL NOT END WELL
There have been two cases recently where the courts have made comments about the costs of litigation in disputes between family members. Whilst the participants may each think themselves more sinned against than sinning, it is always prudent to consider…
COST BITES 142: COSTS ON AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO APPEAL IN A FAMILY CASE
I keep intending to write more about issues of costs in family cases. Not because I want to delve into the intricacies of family law, but because issues of costs have major ramifications for both the clients and practitioners. Even…
COST BITES 141: INTEREST ON COSTS: PREJUDGMENT INTEREST ALLOWED; POST JUDGMENT INTEREST DEFERRED FOR A PERIOD
In Asturion Foundation v Alibrahim [2024] EWHC 757 (Ch) Mr Justice Adam Johnson made two decisions in relation to interest on costs. He awarded pre-judgment interest on costs at 2% above base rate (it was calculated that the interest amounted…
COST BITES 140: WANT TO SEE SUMMARY ASSESSMENT IN ACTION: “MANIFESTLY EXCESSIVE” COSTS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED EVEN WHEN COSTS WERE BEING ASSESSED ON THE INDEMNITY BASIS
In Alvina Collardeau v Michael Fuchs & Anor [2024] EWHC 642 (Fam) Mrs Justice Knowles summarily assessed the costs a committal application. The judgment is an interest example of the summary assessment of costs, with substantial reductions being made to…
PART 36: NORMAL CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO BEAT OFFER MADE – REGARDLESS OF FINDINGS OF MISCONDUCT IN THE CONDUCT OF THE LITIGATION
In ABFA Commodities Trading Ltd v Petraco Oil Company SA (Re Consequential Matters) [2024] EWHC 706 (Comm) Mr Justice Foxton found that the normal Part 36 consequences should follow when a party (the effective claimant in the action) had beaten…
COST BITES 139: A CLAIMANT WAS NOT AWARDED COSTS AGAINST HIS OWN SOLICITORS: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
The judgment of Deputy Master Grimshaw in Al Tarboush v Cassam [2024] EWHC 639 (KB) shows two things: (i) the limitations of the wasted costs procedure; (ii) the major procedural problems that can arise in the course of a case…
COST BITES 138: IN THE ABSENCE OF A CHARGING CLAUSE THE SOLICITOR COULD NOT BE PAID FOR ACTING AS AN EXECUTOR (SEE ALSO “PROVING THINGS…)
In Brealey v Shepherd & Co Solicitors [2024] EWCA Civ 303 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that a solicitor Executor could not charge for legal work done in the absence of a charging clause in a will. Although…
COST BITES 137: WASTED COSTS ORDER WAS APPROPRIATE: APPEAL DISMISSED: SOME NOTES ON PROCEDURE
We are looking again (and not for the last time) at the judgment of Mr Justice Martin Spencer in Rainer Hughes Solicitors v Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Ltd & Ors (Rev1) [2024] EWHC 585 (KB). The decision to make a wasted costs…
COST BITES 136: COSTS JUDGE WAS RIGHT NOT TO ALLOW COSTS OF LEADING COUNSEL: DECISION UPHELD ON APPEAL
In Coram v DR Dunthorn & Son Ltd [2024] EWHC 672 (KB) Mrs Justice Yip, sitting with Costs Judge Nagalingam, upheld a decision not to award the costs of leading counsel on assessment of costs. “That is not to say…
COSTS BITES 136: SOLICITORS COULD NOT RENDER BILLS FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF RETAINER: THE REMEDY WAS TO SUE FOR DAMAGES
An earlier post looked at some aspects of the judgment of Mr Justice Trower in Winros Partnership v Global Energy Horizons Corporation [2021] EWHC 3410 (Ch). The assessment of costs in that action continued after the appeal. Preliminary points were considered by…
CLAIMANT BEATS THEIR OWN PART 36 OFFER: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE COPS FOR THE LOT…
In Bell v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (No. 2: Consequential Matters) [2024] EWHC 650 (KB) Mrs Justice Hill considered the consequences where the claimant had beaten their own Part 36 offers. The defendant was ordered to pay an…
COST BITES 135: COSTS OF SOLICITOR ATTENDING REHABILITATION CASE MANAGEMENTS – MAY BE RECOVERABLE, BUT IT DEPENDS…
In Hadley -v- Przybylo [2024] EWCA Civ 250 the Court of Appeal considered the issue of whether a solicitor in a personal injury case could recover the cost of attending rehabilitation case meetings. It was decided that the costs are potentially recoverable….
THE OFFERS WERE NOT PART 36 OFFERS: COURT COULD DETERMINE COSTS OF A PRELIMINARY TRIAL
In Holden v Holden & Anor [2024] EWHC 453 (Ch) Mr Nicholas Thompsell (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) considered offers made by the defendant to see whether they were in fact Part 36 offers. He held that they…
“SO OPENS ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE CONTINUING WAR AGAINST OF FORENSIC ATTRITION BETWEEN MOTOR INSURERS AND CREDIT HIRE COMPANIES”: HIGH COURT JUDGE UPHOLD DECISION TO MAKE A NON-PARTY COSTS ORDER AGAINST CAR HIRE COMPANY
I am grateful to barrister Stephen Bailey for drawing my attention to the judgment of Mr Justice Turner in Kindertons Ltd v Murtagh & Anor [2024] EWHC 471 (KB). The judge upheld the decision to make a non-party costs order…
THE SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF COSTS: A PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE: WEBINAR 18th MARCH 2024
We have seen several examples on this blog recently relating to the summary assessment of costs, in some cases the sums assessed have been substantial. This webinar on the 18th March 2024 looks at recent cases and then considers the…
THE COSTS JUDGE OVER YOUR SHOULDER 2024: MAXIMISING RECOVERY IN INTER PARTES COSTS: WEBINAR 12th MARCH 2024
There have been a number of interesting decisions over the past 12 months which deal with the assessment of costs. This webinar, on the 12th March 2024, looks at those decisions and the issues relating to ensuring maximum recover of…
COST BITES 134: THE FACT THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD A COSTS ORDER IN ANOTHER ACTION WAS NOT GROUNDS FOR REFUSING AN INTERIM ORDER FOR COSTS
In Baldudak v Matteo (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 301 (Ch) Mr Andrew Sutcliffe KC, sitting as a High Court Judge, made an order for a substantial interim payment of the claimant’s costs. He did not accept the defendant’s argument that…
THE DANGERS OF SERVING A NOTICE OF NON-ADMISSION: LEADS TO INDEMNITY COSTS BEING AWARDED
Another aspect of the judgment in Duke of Sussex & Ors v MGN Ltd (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 274 (Ch) was the defendant’s conduct in serving a notice of non-admission. Service of the notice led to considerable extra costs being incurred. …
PART 36, WITNESS STATEMENTS, INDEMNITY COSTS AND CONDUCT: READ ALL ABOUT IT
In Duke of Sussex & Ors v MGN Ltd (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 274 (Ch) Mr Justice Fancourt made some complex costs orders in relation to the litigation. However the fundamental point was that parties that the claimants that failed…
COST BITES 133: £196,000 AWARDED ON A SUMMARY ASSESSMENT (IN A FAMILY CASE)
The judgment of Mrs Justice Arbuthnot in KS v VS [2024] EWHC 278 (Fam) shows why it is important that family lawyers are fully aware of the principles relating to inter-partes costs orders and also the procedures governing summary assessments. …
COST BITES 132: INTERIM PAYMENTS FOR COSTS AND COSTS OF A CONSEQUENTIAL HEARING
In Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Limited & Ors [2023] EWHC 2923 (Ch) Mr Justice Mellor considered issues relating to an interim payment on costs and whether a consequentials hearing should be assessed…
Opportunities and Threats in Commercial Costs Litigation: Afternoon conference 29th February 2024 in Manchester
My colleagues in the costs team at Kings Chambers alongside three eminent guest speakers are presenting a half day conference on the 29th February 2024 in Manchester. Booking details are available here. THE CONERENCE At this timely conference, four…
QOCS: CLAIMS FOR £1 IN DAMAGES AND NOMINAL DAMAGES STILL HAVE QOCS PROTECTION
In Clark & Ors v Adams & Anor [2024] EWHC 62 (KB) Mr Justice Soole determined that claims for £1 in damages and for “vindicatory purposes only” still have the protection of QOCS. The size of the claim and the…
COST BITES 131: TIME LIMIT FOR ASSESSMENT EXTENDED WHEN BENEFICIARY CHALLENGES COSTS: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION TODAY
I am grateful to barrister Alicia Tew for sending me a copy of the Court of Appeal decision today in Kenig v Thomson Snell & Passmore Llp [2023] EWHC 181 (SCCO). The Court considered the question of whether the costs judge…
COST BITES 130: WHAT COSTS ARE RECOVERABLE WHEN A CLIENT SACKS A SOLICITOR WORKING UNDER A CFA? STICK OR TWIST
The judgment of Senior Costs Judge Gordon-Saker in Sellers v Simpkins [2023] EWHC 3296 (SCCO) considers the issue of what costs a client is due to pay when they have terminated the retainer with a solicitor acting under a CFA….
COST BITES 129: WHY EVERYONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THE INDEMNITY PRINCIPLE IN COSTS
In The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Idreess Malik [2023] EWHC 3213 (Admin) the Administrative Court sets out a key reminder of the central importance of the indemnity principle in relation to the recovery of legal costs. The…
COST BITES 128: WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE JUDGE TO MAKE NO ORDER FOR COSTS
In Guy & Ors v Brake & Ors (Re Moratorium Cancellation Costs) [2023] EWHC 3179 (Ch) HHJ Paul Matthews (sitting as a High Court Judge) found that it was appropriate to make no order for costs in relation to an…
ACCEPTANCE OF PART 36 DOES NOT DISPLACE FIXED COSTS – NOR WERE THERE “EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES”: CLAIMANT COMES TO GRIEF
I am grateful to Simon Fisher, Costs Lawyer, of DWF for sending me a copy of the judgment of District Judge Carter (as he then was) in the case of Bosley -v- Whitecroft, (County Court at Nottingham, 8th November 2023)…
COST BITES 127: DO THE GUIDELINE HOURLY RATES APPLY IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS?
In H v GH [2023] EWFC 235 Simon Kolton KC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) considered the question of whether the guideline hourly rates applied in family proceedings. He held that whilst, strictly, the rates may not apply…
COST BITES 126: THE SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF COSTS: THE IMPACT OF HOME WORKING: CAN THE HOURLY RATES BE UPRATED ON THE BASIS OF WHERE THE FEE EARNER LIVES (AND WORKS)
There are several interesting aspects to the judgment of HHJ Matthews (sitting as a High Court Judge) in Otto & Ors v Inner Mongolia Happy Lamb Catering Management Company Ltd & Ors [2023] EWHC 3151 (Ch). In particular the consideration…
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