Costs
Browne Jacobson’s specialist costs and litigation funding team includes of a diverse mix of solicitors, costs lawyers, costs advocates and traditional costs draftsmen, with a considerable wealth of experience across all sectors of the firm.
Working in all legal sectors of the business, including both contentious and non-contentious work, the team have the full range of necessary capabilities and experience to be able to advise on costs at any stage of the case and in any legal discipline.
This means that the team is often involved in some of the biggest and most complicated costs litigation, and they continue to test the boundaries of the Rules up to and including the Court of Appeal.
The team prides itself on providing an efficient, value for money service tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements of all their clients while providing dynamic and innovative solutions to ensure clients’ aims are achieved.
What we do
We’re able to provide strategic advice on costs at all stages of any case, supported by MI data, allowing informed decisions to be reached and the most cost beneficial strategies to be implemented across a broad range of litigation and arbitration, from individual cases up to large commercial group actions.
Costs management is integral to every case, whether this in relation to your own legal spend or what you may have to pay to an opponent on conclusion. The costs team is engaged in all aspects of costs management on behalf of their clients throughout every case to ensure that not only are the costs between the parties appropriately contained (Precedent H, Precedent R, and Precedent T), but also to ensure that your own legal spend is proportionate as well.
This can and does include the team’s advocacy unit who will also represent your interest as required throughout at Cost and Care Management Conferences.
We provide concise and pragmatic advice on both the liability and quantum of costs, and will negotiate these on your behalf as required. Where agreement is not possible, our drafting team can ensure that your position is protected with the relevant pleadings, and our advocacy team can attend any hearings – up to (and including) the Supreme Court.
The costs team are involved in some of the most cutting-edge costs litigation and appeals prevalent to the whole legal industry, and can represent your interest on any niche issues or test cases as required.
"Clear and concise advice, excellent client care and high level of commerciality."
We regularly assist our clients in the recovery of their costs where they have an order in their favour, including the drafting of bills of costs; replies; and attendance at detailed assessment.
The team are also experienced in advising on QOCS and the enforcement of any costs orders as such matters arise.
"Excellent to work with and we have high trust that they can deliver what we need and when we need it!"
The team offers a bespoke, independent audit service which is tailored to clients’ needs for the purpose of case or panel reviews.
"Well-regarded commercial litigation team, supporting international and domestic clients in the manufacturing, IT, energy, retail and financial sectors. Handles all aspects of disputes, from pre-action issues through to court proceedings and enforcement. Expertise includes contentious contractual, shareholder and transactional matters."
We’re often invited to provide training to public bodies and private organisations on all matters pertaining to costs and costs strategy, tailored to suit their needs and issues as they arise.
"They are flexible, dynamic, and deliver within the time frames they outline."
The costs team works with the firm’s project management teams to ensure that your legal spend is properly and appropriately managed, and remains on track throughout the life of the instruction.
We’re able to provide strategic advice on costs at all stages of any case, supported by MI data, allowing informed decisions to be reached and the most cost beneficial strategies to be implemented across a broad range of litigation and arbitration, from individual cases up to large commercial group actions.
Costs management is integral to every case, whether this in relation to your own legal spend or what you may have to pay to an opponent on conclusion. The costs team is engaged in all aspects of costs management on behalf of their clients throughout every case to ensure that not only are the costs between the parties appropriately contained (Precedent H, Precedent R, and Precedent T), but also to ensure that your own legal spend is proportionate as well.
This can and does include the team’s advocacy unit who will also represent your interest as required throughout at Cost and Care Management Conferences.
We provide concise and pragmatic advice on both the liability and quantum of costs, and will negotiate these on your behalf as required. Where agreement is not possible, our drafting team can ensure that your position is protected with the relevant pleadings, and our advocacy team can attend any hearings – up to (and including) the Supreme Court.
The costs team are involved in some of the most cutting-edge costs litigation and appeals prevalent to the whole legal industry, and can represent your interest on any niche issues or test cases as required.
"Clear and concise advice, excellent client care and high level of commerciality."
We regularly assist our clients in the recovery of their costs where they have an order in their favour, including the drafting of bills of costs; replies; and attendance at detailed assessment.
The team are also experienced in advising on QOCS and the enforcement of any costs orders as such matters arise.
"Excellent to work with and we have high trust that they can deliver what we need and when we need it!"
The team offers a bespoke, independent audit service which is tailored to clients’ needs for the purpose of case or panel reviews.
"Well-regarded commercial litigation team, supporting international and domestic clients in the manufacturing, IT, energy, retail and financial sectors. Handles all aspects of disputes, from pre-action issues through to court proceedings and enforcement. Expertise includes contentious contractual, shareholder and transactional matters."
We’re often invited to provide training to public bodies and private organisations on all matters pertaining to costs and costs strategy, tailored to suit their needs and issues as they arise.
"They are flexible, dynamic, and deliver within the time frames they outline."
The costs team works with the firm’s project management teams to ensure that your legal spend is properly and appropriately managed, and remains on track throughout the life of the instruction.
Featured experience
Acted for a number of institutions and insurers in group litigation
The team has acted for a number of institutions and insurers in group litigation arising from the historic abuse of children. The team ensured that both the clients’ legal spend and their opponents’ legal spend was proportionate to the issues to be determined, thus allowing the Claimants the access to justice required for the claims to be brought, but also ensuring that the costs in doing so was managed for the benefit of the public purse.
Acted for a number of local authorities and insurers
The team acted for a number of local authorities and insurers in dealing with the costs of a leading test case on vicarious liability which proceeded to the Supreme Court. This included a costs assessment in the Supreme Court to deal with various points of principle, and then a further assessment in the SCCO in relation to the costs at first instance and on appeal. This included, at least in part, the recoverability of costs for the clients as well.
A litigation project
The team are heavily involved in a litigation project, both in terms of the management of costs and the security for costs, in a claim worth in excess of £240m on behalf of various stakeholders.
A personal injury case
The team acted for a client in the recovery of costs incurred in defending a personal injury case in which fraudulent dishonesty was successfully pleaded. As a result of the decision, the Claimant lost their QOCS protection and costs were recovered on our client’s behalf.
Related expertise
Key contacts
John Appleyard
Partner
Helen Forman
Principal Associate
Testimonials
"They are flexible, dynamic, and deliver within the time frames they outline."
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
Proposed amendments to the Arbitration Act 1996
Legal Update
Are amendments to be expected for the Arbitration Act 1996?
Legal Update
Part 36 combined offers – when are they beaten?
Legal Update
Extending the scope of fixed recoverable costs: Ministry of Justice consultation
In March 2019, the Ministry of Justice launched a formal consultation (which came to an end on 6 June 2019) aimed at extending the use of fixed recoverable costs in civil claims.
Legal Update
Various Claimants v Giambrone and Law and Others Defendants and AIG Europe Limited 2019
On 11 January 2019 Mr Justice Foskett provided his judgment in respect of an application for non-party costs pursuant to section 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 against AIG.