General
Paramount’s Book Appeal 2024
Our students wish to thank to staff from Paramount Legal Costs and their clients for generously offering to buy books for the school library. The students have picked all these books themselves so I know they are titles that they will enjoy reading. We had a lot of fun making the list and discussing what… Continue reading Paramount’s Book Appeal 2024
HARDSHIP CASES
A hardship case occurs when the Protected Party’s net assets are below £16,000.00 at the time when the Deputyship Anniversary passes. In cases like this, it is not appropriate for the Deputy to have their costs assessed and are limited to take a fixed fee of 4.5% (plus VAT) of the value of the Protected… Continue reading HARDSHIP CASES
FLEXIBLE WORKING
I joined Paramount Legal Costs in July 2022, as a Senior Law Costs Draftsperson, as I wanted to focus on my specialism which is Court of Protection Costs, an area that I have worked in for the last 8 years. I was looking forward to joining a new team and getting to know new clients,… Continue reading FLEXIBLE WORKING
Electronic Bills in the Court of Protection
The voluntary pilot for the use of electronic bills in the Court of Protection (COP E-Bills) ran from 1 November 2022 to 28 April 2023. The new bill is in Microsoft Excel format and, whilst it appears very different to the Microsoft Word format bill we were all used to, it provides a number of… Continue reading Electronic Bills in the Court of Protection
Community
The Paramount team are incredibly proud of the communities that we are a part of and it has become increasing important for us to feel that we are making positive contributions. So back in 2019 we launched our Fundraising Forms which serves not only for community groups, charities, schools etc to request monetary donations, but… Continue reading Community
Remote Working
I joined Paramount Legal Costs in May 2022 as a Costs Lawyer, as I wanted to focus on my specialism within the area of Court of Protection Costs. I knew the work itself wasn’t going to be the challenge as it would just be a case of getting to know new clients and how they… Continue reading Remote Working
Paramount’s Book Fundraiser Launch
To celebrate this year’s World Book Day, we are very excited to launch Paramount’s Book Fundraiser Last year, my colleague, Helen had an wonderful idea to launch a book fundraiser to help schools or community centres in having more access to books, especially in the current economic climate where costs are increasing and any available… Continue reading Paramount’s Book Fundraiser Launch
2022: What a Year!
After a very busy first few weeks of the new year, I have finally been able to look properly at figures for the Private Client Department and reflect on what an amazing year 2022 was for us as a department. We managed to achieve around a 36% growth in Court of Protection files alone from… Continue reading 2022: What a Year!
VOLUNTEERING
When checking the mileage on my car the other week and then checking what it was back in January, I couldn’t believe that I’d done over 9,000 miles. So, I thought it was quite apt that I was writing a blog about volunteering and looking at all the weekends I’d been away and then calculating… Continue reading VOLUNTEERING
Getting To Know You:
At Paramount we think business should be more than transactional. We believe in building long-term relationships with our Clients and getting to know the person behind the screen. The nature of our job means we are given a unique insight into how hard our Clients work and the impact they have on the lives of… Continue reading Getting To Know You:
Remember your Precedent R Discussion Report
We are all aware of the sanctions and risks when it comes to failing to file a Costs Budget, but what about a Precedent R Discussion Report? CPR 3.13(2) states that “in the event that a party files and exchanges a budget under paragraph (1), all other parties, not being litigants in person, must file… Continue reading Remember your Precedent R Discussion Report
MC & Anor v A CCG & Anor [2022] EWCOP 20
This matter relates to an ongoing appeal brought by P’s parents in relation to a judgment made on 17/01/22 by HHJ Burrows to support the CCG’s decision to vaccinate P against Covid. P is a 21-year-old man, who resides in a residential care home, with a complex medical history; born with a profound learning disability… Continue reading MC & Anor v A CCG & Anor [2022] EWCOP 20
Is “the Devil in the details” or is it just about good drafting?
AKC v Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust [2022] 1 WLR 946 When it comes to commencing assessment and serving a detailed Bill of Costs, this case is one of the most important decisions to have been made in the last 12 months. Whilst there have been many blogs and case summaries published… Continue reading Is “the Devil in the details” or is it just about good drafting?
Do you want rates in excess of Guideline? Well, you must provide “clear and compelling justification”!
Today we take a look at the case of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd & Co -v- LG Display Co. Ltd & Anor (Costs) [2022] EWCA Civ 466 in which the Court of Appeal sent out one of the clearest messages to date that if a party wants rates in excess of the Guideline, “a clear… Continue reading Do you want rates in excess of Guideline? Well, you must provide “clear and compelling justification”!
More developments relating to Solicitor / Own Client costs
There were further developments recently in the ongoing disputes resulting from clients challenging the level of costs charged by their former Solicitor. Over 130 cases are being brought by Clear Legal Limited (T/A Checkmylegalfees.com) challenging the costs charged by Slater and Gordon to their former clients. In Edwards & Others -v- Slater and Gordon UK… Continue reading More developments relating to Solicitor / Own Client costs
Allowing Counsel fees does not necessarily mean Solicitors fees will be reduced
This is the case of R v Barts Health NHS Trust [2022] whereby Costs Judge Rowley considered the costs position after Justice MacDonald made an Order that the Defendant Trust pay 80% of the Claimant’s costs of judicial review proceedings. By way of background, the case was brought on behalf of the family of schoolgirl… Continue reading Allowing Counsel fees does not necessarily mean Solicitors fees will be reduced
Court Fee Remission: Where are we now?
I’m sure that most practitioners will be aware that the issue of Court Fee Remission has been the subject of recent reporting and so I thought it would be a useful idea to provide some clarity on a topic which continues to provide some confusion. No-one can have missed the fact that Court fees have… Continue reading Court Fee Remission: Where are we now?
Getting To Know You:
At Paramount we think business should be more than transactional. We believe in building long-term relationships with our Clients and getting to know the person behind the screen. The nature of our job means we are given a unique insight into how hard our Clients work and the impact they have on the lives of… Continue reading Getting To Know You:
The importance of using the correct Court form
In late 2021, Litigators were issued a stark reminder regarding the importance of using the correct Court forms. Now that the Christmas break is over, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight the importance of this case, in the event it has been lost amongst the flurry of December emails. In Changing Climates Ltd… Continue reading The importance of using the correct Court form
The Electronic Bill in the Court of Protection and OPG105 estimates
We have recently been advised that the electronic bill of costs in Court of Protection matters is now ready for consultation, and that the members of the Professional Deputies Forum and the Solicitors for the Elderly will be invited to consider and make comments on the bill before it is rolled out. We have not… Continue reading The Electronic Bill in the Court of Protection and OPG105 estimates
Costmas 2021 Overview
My Cost Lawyer colleagues, Karl Robson and Kris Kilsby, prepared a useful 2021 costs law overview as part of the 12 Days of Costmas. In case you missed any, I thought it would be useful to have them all in the same document, and they are certainly worth a quick read. Day 1: Precedent Christmas… Continue reading Costmas 2021 Overview
No Costs Statement = Santa’s/the Court’s Naughty List – Mahandru -v- Nielson [2021] EWHC 2297 (QB)
This is a matter in which a Defendant who successfully defended an Application had their costs of the Application substantially reduced as they failed to file a costs statement in accordance with CPR 44 PD 9.5(4)(b). The Practice Direction dealing with this point states the following; (4) The statement of costs must be filed at… Continue reading No Costs Statement = Santa’s/the Court’s Naughty List – Mahandru -v- Nielson [2021] EWHC 2297 (QB)
Looking Ahead to Costs Developments in the Future
Next year looks likely to be another busy period for developments within the world of costs. Below I have set out a few predictions and decisions to look out for. The extension of Fixed Costs will continue to be a key talking point throughout 2021. I have already touched upon the implications of the extension… Continue reading Looking Ahead to Costs Developments in the Future
Extension of Fixed Recoverable Costs
In September 2021 the Ministry of Justice released the Government’s response to the Extension of Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC) regime for claims up to the value of £100,000.00. The response was approval of the extension, but the implementation was not as previously consulted upon. The Ministry of Justice has decided to spare the Civil Procedure… Continue reading Extension of Fixed Recoverable Costs
Failure to File Costs Budget Led to Court Fees Only
This Costmas blog looks at the case of Pasricha -v- Pasricha (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 1017 (Ch) which was a matter that involved the right to occupy a property. The parties were ordered to file Cost Budgets not later than 7 days before a CCMC, however, the Defendant failed to comply with the direction and… Continue reading Failure to File Costs Budget Led to Court Fees Only
Detailed Assessment Costs
Earlier in the year I prepared an article on the case of Mullaraj v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021]. The case provided judicial comments regarding whether a paying party should be able to obtain a ‘different order for costs’ at the conclusion of a provisional assessment simply by relying on CPR 47.20(3)(b),… Continue reading Detailed Assessment Costs
Ho Ho Ho: Clarification on QOCS – An Early Christmas Present?
The case of Ho -v- Adelekun [2021] UKSC 43 confirmed whether a Defendant in a QOCS case was able to set off cost orders in its favour against Costs Orders made in favour of a Claimant. The claim involved an RTA where the Claimant was the innocent party. The claim settled by way of a… Continue reading Ho Ho Ho: Clarification on QOCS – An Early Christmas Present?
Fixed Costs Case Law
In light of the recent consultation on the extension of fixed costs to higher value claims it is important to continue to note the potential escape routes from fixed costs. Once a claim is submitted through the portal there are very few avenues to take to avoid fixed costs applying. The usual denials of liability,… Continue reading Fixed Costs Case Law
All I want for Christmas is… Clarity on DBAs?
This year saw further clarification regarding the use of DBAs in the form of the case of Zuberi -v- Lexlaw [2021] EWCA Civ 16. In this case Mrs Zuberi (Claimant) entered into a DBA with the Defendant whereby it had a clause that the Defendant would receive 12% of monies received by the Claimant if… Continue reading All I want for Christmas is… Clarity on DBAs?
Part 36 Round-Up
The importance of a good Part 36 offer on a case can never be understated. This important principle of litigation was again illustrated in the case of Shah & Anor v Shah & Anor [2021] EWHC 1668 (QB). In this case the Claimant made a Part 36 offer to settle a family dispute for £1.00.… Continue reading Part 36 Round-Up
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