- +44 (0) 1244 256865
- office@barnschapel.co.uk
- 09:00 - 17:00 / Mon - Fri
Our team of costs law experts provide bespoke legal costs drafting service and a strategic approach to address the specific objectives of our clients.
Our comprehensive costs draftsman service ensures that we support our clients and help them to address and resolve multifaceted challenges in relation to all aspects of legal costs.
We combine thorough preparation with strategic planning to achieve optimal outcomes for your costs matters.
Whether you need support with private retainers, conditional fee agreements, or third-party funding arrangements, we provide precise, practical solutions for both receiving and paying parties, maintaining clear communication with you throughout the entire process.
We offer a comprehensive ‘Cradle-to-Grave’ support package throughout your costs case lifecycle, from initial assessment to final resolution, ensuring you understand every aspect of the legal costs process.
Preparing detailed, accurate costs budgets that fully justify claims and optimise recovery efforts, providing comprehensive documentation to support all aspects of the budget.
Creating accurate statements of costs, meticulously itemising all incurred expenses to fully justify claims and maximise recovery for our clients.
Drafting detailed bills of costs to substantiate claims and enhance recovery for clients, ensuring all necessary details are included to maximum effectiveness.
Drafting precise points of dispute and replies to challenge and defend costs, presenting well-reasoned arguments and evidence to support or contest claims effectively.
Engaging in discussions to resolve disputes over costs claimed and negotiating the most favourable outcome for our clients.
Attending assessment hearings, forensically reviewing all information to ensure accurate cost recovery.
Examining costs to ensure they are reasonable and necessary, resolving fee and recovery disputes.
Delivering expert training to advance your team's knowledge of costs law, and providing expertise and practical insights.
At BarnsChapel Costs Law, we are not just another “factory-firm” turning out sub-standard work as quickly as possible.
We care about our quality of work, because we believe that taking the time to understand your business means that we can help maximise your success.
This is why you can always expect our best, every time.
All of our team are committed to achieving the best possible results for your costs case. If we see potential for better outcomes, we will guide you towards them
We help turn complex costs law processes into clear, concise steps, keeping you fully informed and prepared at every stage of your case.
Our honest, open, and direct communication builds trusted partnerships.
You will work with one dedicated costs expert from start to finish, ensuring consistency and understanding of your case.
A costs lawyer is a specialist in legal costs who advises on and manages costs issues in litigation. They prepare costs budgets, negotiate costs settlements, and represent clients in costs disputes.
Costs budgeting is the process of estimating the costs that will be incurred during litigation. It involves preparing a detailed budget that outlines the expected costs for each stage of the litigation process. This helps ensure that costs are managed effectively and that parties are aware of the financial implications of their actions.
The court considers various factors, including the complexity of the case, the conduct of the parties, and the reasonableness and proportionality of the costs incurred. The court may also refer to the costs budget and any agreements between the parties.
The Civil Procedure Rules provide the framework for managing costs in civil litigation. They set out the procedures for costs budgeting, assessment, and recovery, ensuring that costs are controlled and disputes are resolved fairly.
Solicitor-client costs disputes arise when a client challenges the fees charged by their solicitor. These disputes can be assessed under section 70 of the Solicitors Act 1974, and the court will consider various factors such as the adequacy of the bill and the time limits for assessment.
Key issues include determining whether there are grounds for an assessment, the adequacy of the bill, and whether the solicitor is entitled to send interim statute bills according to the contract of retainer.
The process involves the client applying to the court for an assessment of the solicitor's bill. The application must be made within one month of receiving the bill for an absolute right to assessment. After one month, the court may order an assessment on such terms as it thinks fit, and after 12 months, special circumstances must be shown.
Party-and-party costs are the costs that one party is ordered to pay to another party in litigation. Solicitor-client costs are the costs that a client pays to their solicitor for legal services.
Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting is a rule that protects claimants in personal injury cases from having to pay the defendant's costs if the claim is unsuccessful, except in certain circumstances such as fundamental dishonesty.
A Wasted Costs Order is an order made by the court requiring a legal representative to pay costs incurred due to improper, unreasonable, or negligent conduct. This ensures that misconduct by legal professionals does not unjustly burden others.
The principle of “costs follow the event” has been a cornerstone of costs law for centuries and means that the losing party in a legal dispute is generally required to pay the legal costs of the winning party.
Established to promote fairness and discourage frivolous lawsuits, it has been a fundamental part of the UK legal system since the 13th century, and continues to play a crucial role in the modern legal system.
Have a question about Costs Law that we haven’t answered, or want to have a chat about what we do and how we do it?
Use the contact details below to get in touch, or fill in our contact form and we will get right back to you.
© 2025 BarnsChapel Ltd. All Rights Reserved
