-
Matthew Harman on budget misconceptions
In our final video installment of 2022 Partner and Costs Lawyer Matthew Harman takes a look at budget misconceptions and areas of confusion based on discussions he’s had over the years with various fee earners at various firms. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from…
-
Sara Gould on costs recovery
In the latest installment of our video series Sara Gould gives her top tips on how to maximise costs recovery. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from some of our other Partners. We hope you’re finding them useful and…
-
Matthew Harman on proportionality
In the latest installment of our costs video series Matthew Harman talks about proportionality. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from some of our other Partners, we hope you find them useful! If you have any questions for Matthew please do…
-
For whom the Belsner tolls…do not let it toll for you
In the unlikely event you have not considered the lengthy (23 pages) judgment of the Court of Appeal or indeed perused one of the very many detailed and informative summaries of the case Belsner v Cam Legal Services Limited or perhaps you are a visitor…
-
Broad brush budgeting
It has been a little while since a judgment dealing with Costs Budgets so it was nice to see on BAILII a decision from Mr Roger Ter Haar KC sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge in the TCC on 2 November 2022. https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2022/2767.html ASSOCIATED…
-
Sara Gould on amending a costs budget
In the latest installment of our new video series Sara Gould talks about amending a costs budget, using the Precedent T and the benchmark for significant development and good reason. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from some of…
-
Steve Jones on time recording
In the latest installment of our new video series Steve Jones talks about time recording in the context of costs budgets, electronic bills and paperless files. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from some of our other Partners, we…
-
The Costs Judge delivers…
In the matter of Haskell Elias – v- Wallace LLP In the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SENIOR COURTS COSTS OFFICE Before – SENIOR COSTS JUDGE GORDON-SAKER (Judge). Date: 12/10/2022 Neutral Citation Number [2022] EWHC 2574 (SCCO) – Case No: SC-2022-APP-000546 At the hearing of this…
-
Matthew Harman on costs budgets
In the second installment of our new video series Matthew Harman provides a few pointers to consider when preparing a costs budget. You can find the video on our YouTube channel, along with more videos from some of our other Partners, we hope you find them…
-
Harmans talk costs
Welcome to our new series of videos looking at all things costs. Two of our Partners and Costs Lawyers Steve Jones and Sara Gould are kicking off proceedings. Steve takes a look at how to overcome challenges to hourly rates while Sara talks about Part 36 offers including…
-
When costs of the costs, cost!
Gary Knight looks at an interesting judgment from DCJ Colin Campbell involving the argument that summary assessment costs of £1,500.00 plus vat and court fee applied because the Claimant had “exaggerated” costs of the action. Neutral Citation Number : [2022] EWHC 2390 (SCCO) Case No:…
-
Be careful when preparing your CFA agreement – mistakes can be costly!
The wonderful resource that is BAILII continues to provide judgments in cases that matter. https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2022/2054.pdf Follow the link for another tale of woe and warning for solicitors when drawing up agreements. (1) DIAG HUMAN SE (2) MR JOSEF STAVA v VOLTERRA FIETTA (A FIRM) Neutral…
-
Beware the cost of “inadequate oversight”
Cabo Concepts Ltd v MGA Entertainment (UK) Ltd [2021], concerns a claim for damages arising from MGA’s alleged breach of competition law and unjustified threats of patent infringement. Three weeks before the trial of the action, the Defendant advised the court that some 85,000 documents had…
-
NHS Trust Loses Costs Dispute Over Solicitors’ Role
The NHS Resolution, representing the Paying Party (Defendant) in a recent costs assessment tried a novel approach to the challenge of the Claimant’s hourly rates, arguing, as one point amongst a number of preliminary points, that the rates claimed ought to be reduced following instructions…
-
Autumn Update: Cost Law Highlights
It’s been awhile since our last update and we just wanted to let you know how things have been going and what we’ve been up to. Like a lot of firms we have adopted a hybrid approach to work and the Harmans team are now…
-
Harmans are expanding
We’re looking for an experienced Costs Lawyer to join our team who is conversant in the new format bill and CostsMaster and who shares our commitment to providing the best legal costs service for our clients. If this is of interest please send your details…
-
Harmans Costs Brief – May 2021
Welcome to the latest Costs Brief which covers the third and final update following the Civil Justice Council’s recent Guideline Hourly Rates report. We have been working with The Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors (FOCIS) to collate the relevant data to assist with their submission to the…
Tags: ACL, Civil Justice Council, CJC, costs, Costs Brief, FOCIS, GHR, guideline hourly rates, LLST, London Legal Walk, Personal Injury, RTA -
Harmans Costs Brief – March 2021
Welcome to the latest Costs Brief which discusses the recommendations for reform following the Civil Justice Council’s recent Guideline Hourly Rates report. We have been working with The Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors (FOCIS) to collate the relevant data to assist with their submission to the…
-
Matthew Harman talks costs
Welcome to the first in a series of costs videos which will feature a different Harmans partner each time. Matt Harman kicks our series off with a look at the publication of the Civil Justice Council’s report on Guideline Hourly Rates and gives his thoughts…
-
Harmans Costs Brief – November 2020
This month’s Costs Brief features High Court ruling on ‘significant development’ plus the latest in the recovery plan for civil and family courts and tribunals. We remain open for business with all of our team working remotely and fully operational so if you need any help with anything on the…
-
Autumn Update: Legal Costs Developments
It’s been a couple of months since our last update and we just wanted to let you know how things have been going and what we’ve been up to. Like a lot of firms we have begun the transition from working remotely to now working partly in the…
-
Harmans Costs Brief – Q&As
This month’s Costs Brief features some Q&As that came up in our recent online costs clinic that we thought might be useful to share. If you’ve got any other costs queries just let us know and we’ll be happy to help. We’ve also covered the new…
-
Costs Q&As
A few questions arose during our recent online costs clinic which we thought might be helpful to share. On the issue of interest on costs one caller was concerned that the courts are taking a significant time in sealing and returning orders made by consent…
-
Chambers & Partners 2020 – Litigation Support Guide
Harmans is proud to have consolidated our position as a leading costs firm in the Chambers & Partners Litigation Support guide 2020, an industry bible of the leading professional service providers in the legal industry. Harmans is especially praised for our expertise in the Personal…
-
The cap on recoverable costs of costs budgeting excludes VAT
Judgment from Senior Costs Judge Gordon-Saker.
-
R v Shinners rates
Senior Costs Judge Master Gordon-Saker refers to the Guideline hourly rates as a “starting point only.” Guideline rates are of course just that, fairly blunt instruments designed to assist judges in the summary assessment of costs. The passage of time since 2010 means that they…
-
Online costs clinic – July 27 2020
Harmans are hosting an informal online costs clinic where you can drop into our virtual boardroom and ask us any costs related questions you may have. We’ve found our team video conference meetings invaluable during lockdown and we thought that this might be something that…
-
Harmans Costs Brief – July 2020
It’s been some time since our last update and we just wanted to let you know how things have been going and take this opportunity to invite you to our virtual costs clinic later this month. A number of our clients have been paperless for sometime so…
-
DX closure
Please note that Harmans is terminating its DX contract with effect from 29 June 2020 and will therefore be unable to send or receive documents by DX from that date. From 29 June 2020 our address for all correspondence should be: HarmansWarlies Park HouseHorseshoe HillUpshireEssexEN9 3SL Email: info@harmanscosts.comTel: 01992…
-
MEF v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust – judgment handed down
Beware the wording of your offers to settle costs when outside Part 36. MEF v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust final judgment
