A Browne Jacobson lawyer with more than three decades’ experience in handling social care professional negligence cases has been appointed as a Costs Judge. 

Sarah Erwin-Jones, Partner who leads on the UK and Ireland law firm’s redress, abuse and assault claims, will assume the role on 1 August after The King signed a royal warrant to approve the appointment. 

Costs judges are specialist, full-time judicial officers in England and Wales who resolve disputes over legal fees. They work primarily in the Senior Courts Costs Office, and can take complex cases transferred from any civil court in England & Wales. Costs Judges also sit as expert assessors in higher court appeals.

Sarah, who joined Browne Jacobson in 1994 and is based in the firm’s Nottingham office, will step down from the firm once appointed, at which point she will become known as Costs Judge Erwin-Jones.

Jonathan Tardif, Senior Partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “Sarah exemplifies everything we aspire to be as a firm at the forefront of society’s biggest issues. She has always approached the most difficult and sensitive work with a combination of intellectual rigour, compassion and an absolute commitment to doing right by the people involved – whether that is a vulnerable complainant, an institutional client, or the broader public interest.

“We are enormously proud that her service to the legal profession and her clients has been recognised with an appointment as Costs Judge. The bench will gain someone who understands, at a very human level, what is at stake when people bring their disputes to court. We wish her every success in this new role.”

Sarah joined Browne Jacobson as a newly qualified solicitor when the firm was working on some of the first large child abuse group action cases. She has since built an outstanding reputation as a leading specialist in social care law, complex personal injury, group litigation and legal costs.

This combination of expertise has made her one of the most distinctive practitioners in her field. She has been recognised by the Legal 500 since 2015 as a standout expert in child and adult abuse claims, and by Chambers UK as a key figure in defending local authorities in social care and education matters.

Sarah said: “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as a Costs Judge. Having had the privilege of serving as a Deputy Costs Judge since 2013, this experience has only deepened my appreciation for this area of law.

“Throughout my career, particularly through my work on group actions and redress schemes, I have developed a real concern about litigating in a manner that is both compassionate for complainants and proportionate for the stakeholders – and a genuine focus on managing litigation costs has always sat at the heart of that. 

“I am proud of the difference that careful, principled litigation can make to the lives of those involved. I am enormously grateful to everyone at Browne Jacobson for their support over more than 30 years, and I look forward to bringing those values to my new role.”