KNOWLEDGE HUB
NEWS AND INSIGHT FROM PARAMOUNT LEGAL
Explore Paramount Legal Costs' Knowledge Hub, your destination for insightful legal case law blogs. Authored by our team of experienced Legal Costs Draftpeople & Costs Lawyers, our blogs offer practical insights and expert commentary on recent court rulings and emerging legal trends.
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9th January 2025
Navigating the Indemnity Principle: Protecting Your Hourly Rates
When it comes to maximising costs recovery in litigation, navigating the indemnity principle is essential. Given the increase in Guideline Hourly Rates from 1 January 2025, now is a great time to refresh yourself with the indemnity principle to ensure you do not fall foul of it later down the line. In this article, we’ll… Continue reading Navigating the Indemnity Principle: Protecting Your Hourly Rates
8th January 2025
Key Takeaways From Kenig: What do Practitioners need to know?
The landmark case of Kenig v Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP [2024] has redefined the rights of beneficiaries under S.71(3) of the Solicitors Act 1974, opening new avenues for challenging solicitors’ bills. Today, we will take a look at the key takeaways from Kenig. S.71(3) of the Solicitors Act 1974 had enshrined the right of… Continue reading Key Takeaways From Kenig: What do Practitioners need to know?
7th January 2025
2025 Guideline Hourly Rates
1 January 2025 has given solicitors and practitioners a late Christmas gift. From the beginning of January, Guideline Hourly rates have increased by 3.65% in line with inflation. It is important to note that these rates are not automatically recoverable – if you wish to seek the increased rates, you must notify your Clients. Failure… Continue reading 2025 Guideline Hourly Rates
19th December 2024
A Costsmas Wishlist
It is that time of year to get the pen and paper out, browse through the Argos catalogue and begin to prepare your Christmas list for us, it's all about our Costsmas Wishlist. I have done just that with three things that I think will be very handy as we head into Christmas and 2025.… Continue reading A Costsmas Wishlist
18th December 2024
A Year In Review – Litigation
And just like that, another 12 months pass since I was sat in this same situation, mulling over what has happened in both the costs world, and also that of the Paramount Legal Costs’ Litigation Department. I’ll start with training, as this was actually where I ended last year’s review, so it feels apt to… Continue reading A Year In Review – Litigation
13th December 2024
Private Client – A Year in Review
2024 has undoubtedly been the busiest year on record for the Private Client Team at Paramount Legal Costs. The year started positively with a long-awaited increase in the Guideline Hourly Rates, shortly followed on 1 April by an update to Practice Direction 19B. This brought significant increases across all categories of fixed costs that can… Continue reading Private Client – A Year in Review
26th November 2024
Costs Mediation – to agree or not to agree
Costs Mediation is a hot topic, and there is a real question mark over the benefits of it when it comes to costs disputes. I have dealt with costs for over 20 years, and recently attended my first costs mediation, and thought it wise to think about the pros and the cons. By way of… Continue reading Costs Mediation – to agree or not to agree
18th November 2024
Don’t get caught out: Clear days for service
Don’t get caught out by a miscalculation of time The case of Corfield v Howard [2024] EWHC 2727 (Comm) is a timely reminder to check the timeline for filing documents at Court. HH Judge Davis-White KC was hearing an application that related to the validity of a Consent Order. The Court had made an… Continue reading Don’t get caught out: Clear days for service
29th October 2024
When is your Bill deemed to be paid?
Introduction When is your Bill deemed to be paid? Looks like a simple question BUT, the answer is a little more complex. Thankfully, the case of Oakwood Solicitors Ltd -v- Menzies [2024] UKSC 34 confirmed what is meant by “payment” for the purpose of section 70 of the Solicitors Act. Background Mr Menzies (M) was… Continue reading When is your Bill deemed to be paid?
24th October 2024
Excessive Costs Budget leads to a costs Order being made against the culprit!
Introduction Seeking an excessive Costs Budget is not a great idea – this was shown in the recent case of Nicholas Worcester v Dr Philip Hopley [2024] EWHC 2181 (KB). This was a Clinical Negligence case whereby the Claimant filed a Costs Budget with estimated costs in the sum of £342,263. Following the CMC, the… Continue reading Excessive Costs Budget leads to a costs Order being made against the culprit!
17th October 2024
Fixed Costs and the NEW Precedent U
The Introduction of the Fixed Costs Determination process We are now one year on from the extension of the fixed recoverable costs regime to include all types of civil litigation claims with a value of up to £100,000.00. The number of cases which fall within the extended scheme has been growing, and in light of… Continue reading Fixed Costs and the NEW Precedent U
8th October 2024
The Importance of File Notes
Introduction The importance of file notes cannot be overstated. One of the key bits of advice we constantly provide is the need to evidence the work undertaken with a file note. If you don’t? Well, then you introduce “doubt”. “Doubt” in a Standard Basis Assessment will invariably lead to arguments under CPR 44.3(2) which states… Continue reading The Importance of File Notes
5th September 2024
Costs Budget – Another reminder of the need to be prompt to vary it!
Introduction Practitioners have again been reminded of the need to be prompt when seeking to vary a costs budget. Today’s blog takes a look at the case of Khokan v Nirjhor (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 1873 (KB) whereby the Defendant sought to vary their costs budget after the Claimant’s claim had been struck out. Background … Continue reading Costs Budget – Another reminder of the need to be prompt to vary it!
28th August 2024
Are inter-fee earner discussions recoverable?
A common question we get is, are inter-fee earner discussions recoverable? Well, the answer is held within Fuseon Ltd v Senior Courts Costs Office & the Lord Chancellor [2020]. In this case, a costs claim arose from a private prosecution by Fuseon Ltd, a Lancashire based letting agency, against a Director of the business who… Continue reading Are inter-fee earner discussions recoverable?
27th August 2024
What circumstances allow departure from an approved costs budget?
What circumstances allow departure from an approved costs budget? It has been a couple of months since Charlene Turner and Helen Spalding attended the annual #SCILed2024 conference in Birmingham, but I thought it would be a good time to delve in to the “costs questions” box, and share another question that we received at the… Continue reading What circumstances allow departure from an approved costs budget?
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