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.
- All
- Litigation
- Private Client
- Uncategorized
10th February 2025
CPR Updates for April 2025 – Increases to the fixed costs of medical reports in soft tissue / whiplash claims
The statutory instrument for April 2025’s changes to the CPR was laid before parliament on 3 February. One costs change of note is the increase to the sums allowed for fixed cost medical reports in soft tissue and whiplash claims under CPR 45.62 (2). The new amounts are as follows : Previous amount New… Continue reading CPR Updates for April 2025 – Increases to the fixed costs of medical reports in soft tissue / whiplash claims
4th February 2025
What are the Exemptions to Fixed Recoverable Costs?
Do you know what the exemptions to fixed recoverable costs are? The introduction of the expanded fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime to civil litigation on 1 October 2023 marked a significant shift in the landscape of legal costs management. This article delves into the background of this reform and focuses on the exemptions within CPR… Continue reading What are the Exemptions to Fixed Recoverable Costs?
28th January 2025
Is your Retainer fit for purpose?
It is common knowledge that the retainer is fundamentally important in the recovery of costs and it is therefore essential to ensure that your funding documentation is correct at the outset of the claim. Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) continue to be the main method of funding civil litigation, in particular for Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence cases. … Continue reading Is your Retainer fit for purpose?
27th January 2025
Understanding the Solicitor/ Client Assessment process in Contentious Probate
The Solicitors Act 1974 has enshrined the historic right of clients to have their solicitors’ bills assessed by the Court. In the past this was a right that was rarely used save for the unfortunate circumstances when the solicitor/client relationship broke down and resulted in a dispute. However, since the introduction of LASPO and the… Continue reading Understanding the Solicitor/ Client Assessment process in Contentious Probate
21st January 2025
Further guidance on Medical Agency Breakdowns provided by the SCCO
The issue of medical agency fees has been rumbling on for some time now, with paying parties routinely requesting breakdowns to separate the agency element and the fees of the expert themselves. Any receiving party will know that agencies are not keen to provide those breakdowns and it can often become a sticking point… Continue reading Further guidance on Medical Agency Breakdowns provided by the SCCO
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!
PARAMOUNT LEGAL COSTS LTD
Atlantic House, Parkhouse, Carlisle,
Cumbria, CA3 0LJ
Services
Legal
© Paramount Legal Costs / Website by: Freshspace.