Did you know that, in cases where our clients act on a CFA basis for their clients, we also act on a no win, no fee basis when drafting their Precedent H Costs Budgets and recovering their costs? What that means is that, if a Budget is drawn for a client, we do not charge for it at all unless the claim is won, and we do not raise an invoice until our client has been paid. In respect of the costs of drafting a bill of costs and of negotiating settlement, we reduce our charges pro rata in line with the percentage reduction to our clients’ profit costs, meaning that it is in our interests as well as those of our clients to recover as much as we can on their behalf.  So, if we recover 70% of a client’s profit costs once all disbursements, VAT and Counsel’s fees are deducted, we reduce our time costs by the same 30% reduction that our client has agreed to accept. If a case goes to assessment, we only charge what the court awards, both in respect of bill drafting costs and the costs of assessment process. By charging for our time in this way, our clients only pay us what is recovered from the paying party, and in respect of hourly rates, the only time our rate will equate to more than the guideline rate for grade D fee earners set down by the Senior Court Costs Office is when we recover in excess of 74% of your profit costs.  And that seems like a good deal to us, especially since, in CFA cases, we will never ask to be paid until our clients have been paid. Please get in touch if you would like more information on our fees and services, both in respect of costs and mediation work.

p style="text-align: justify;">From time to time we are asked the same question, “Why do I need a costs lawyer, surely, I could do it myself?” It’s a fair question.

But while some solicitors deal with costs on their own cases, there are a number of very good reasons why working with an experienced costs firm like BarnsChapel Ltd could ensure that you spend more time doing what you do best, while generating the maximum return by way of costs recovery. For example.

1. Better for your bottom line: Our hourly rate is lower than yours, meaning that any work done will cost you less than you could earn spending the same amount of time doing other fee earner work.
2. Specialists in the field: We are trained to fully understand what can and cannot be claimed, thereby maximising costs recovery without claiming costs which are not recoverable and might bring your bill or budget into question.
3. Up-to-date expertise: It is our job to know the current legislation and case law relating to costs. This means that you do not need to keep on top of recent developments and can concentrate on progressing your cases whilst leaving your costs work in trusted hands. This is particularly important when preparing Points of Dispute and Points in Reply.
4. Cradle-to-grave service: We can deal with the drafting of budgets and bills, negotiations and, where necessary, undertaking advocacy at assessments. As a consequence of this seamless approach, we completely understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of our cases and can provide the best possible advice and outcome for you and your clients.

We are delighted to welcome Evie Spurdle to the team at BarnsChapel.

Evie has joined us as a Legal Assistant, and will take over some of the costs work and administrative tasks currently undertaken by our Office Manager.

With myself, my husband and my daughter all now working for BarnsChapel, we truly are a family firm.

If we can assist you with any of your costs or mediation needs, please contact me at louise.spurdle@barnschapel.co.uk or by calling on 01244 256865.