It seems likely that the long-anticipated extension to cases which fall under the fixed recoverable costs regime will now come into effect from April 2023. This is likely to affect the majority of personal injury lawyers and their costs lawyers since the extension is expected to cover most money cases worth up to £100,000.
There may be penalties where there has been unreasonable conduct, or where a Part 36 offer has been beaten, and the Ministry of Justice is also considering whether there should be an uplift in cases where a party or witness is classed as “vulnerable”, but only where additional work has been required as a result. Clearly, change is on the horizon, and we are going to have to live with it, like it or not. I have no doubt that we can all weather the storm as long as we prepare ourselves for what is to come.