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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8th August 2024

CPR Updates for October 2024

CPR Updates for October 2024 Back in May we reported on the CPRC open meeting and the likelihood that the lower value clinical negligence fixed costs rules would not be ready for October 2024 implementation. The rules needed to be signed off at the June 2024 meeting and the subsequent minutes showed that this had,… Continue reading

31st July 2024

Private Client – The First Six Months of 2024

The first six months of 2024 has been an unusually busy time, both in the Court of Protection costs world, and for the Paramount Legal Costs Limited Private Client Team. Practice Direction 19B On 1 April 2024, Practice Direction 19B was updated, applying to all remuneration periods ending on or after that date. This saw… Continue reading

25th July 2024

What do the 2024 Guideline hourly rates mean for you?

Towards the end of 2023 Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos made good on his intention of increasing Guideline Hourly Rates by the rate of inflation.

22nd July 2024

Garylee Grimsley 1998 – Two or more fee earners at an attendance

The Case Law of Garylee Grimsley (1998), addresses the argument of two or more fee earners at an attendance. This was disallowed by Master O’Hare in accordance with R-v-Legal Aid Board Ex Parte Bruce (1991) which stated that whilst the solicitors are not expected to carry knowledge of all the law in the heads, seeking… Continue reading

9th July 2024

Who can sign costs pleadings?

Who can sign costs pleadings? There is sometimes a bit of confusion over who can certify the various different costs documents. The confusion no doubt arises because the rules are slightly different depending on which document you are dealing with. With that in mind we thought it would be useful to set out the rules… Continue reading

8th July 2024

Professional Costs following the death of P

What happens with costs following the death of P? A claim for costs that have been incurred during the Protected Party’s life time which are to be paid or charged on the estate, is to be made within 6 years of the date of the Protected Party’s death as per the Court of Protection Rules… Continue reading

25th June 2024

Fixed recoverable costs and clinical negligence claims – Why is there a “20% rule” in respect of vulnerability already in the CPR, if FRC don’t currently apply to Clinical Negligence Claims?

When Charlene Turner and Helen Spalding attended #SCILed2024, they took our new “costs questions” box along with them and there were three which we were asked which really stood out to us as being something we thought some of our readers may also be interested in. Charlene deals with the first one of them looks… Continue reading

25th June 2024

Refuse to mediate at your own Peril!

In the case of Northamber PLC -v- Genee World Ltd & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 428 the Court of Appeal reinforced the cost implications of a party’s refusal to mediate. The Court of Appeal were asked to consider, amongst other things, whether the Trial Judge had failed to consider that the Claimant had proposed mediation… Continue reading

19th June 2024

Court of Protection – Increased Fixed Fees from 1 April 2024

NEW FEE INCREASES 2024 Practice Direction 19B – Fixed Costs and Deputy Remuneration In The Court of Protection As of the 1 April 2024, the above practice direction has been updated to include an increase in fixed costs that can be claimed, and these are set out in the table below. Work Undertaken Fixed Costs… Continue reading

18th June 2024

Detailed Assessment – Tips from the front line

Introduction A Detailed Assessment hearing is the last resort when it comes to attempting to negotiate costs between the parties at the conclusion of the case. In most circumstances a Detailed Assessment hearing is required when there is a fundamental disagreement between the parties in respect of the costs which cannot be compromised or resolved… Continue reading

28th May 2024

A Summary – Civil Procedure Rules Committee (Open Meeting May 2024)

The CPRC held their annual open meeting online via teams on 10 May. The online format has been in place for the last few years and offers a really easy and accessible way to gain an insight into the work of the committee and to ask questions. This year’s meeting was of particular interest from… Continue reading

14th May 2024

How to… Make a Part 36

Part 36 offers are made on a ‘without prejudice save as to costs’ basis. This means the Court is not made aware of a Part 36 offer until after costs have been assessed, but before it has made an order in relation to the Costs of Assessment (costs of costs). Part 36 offers can also… Continue reading

9th May 2024

Recovering costs in respect of MDT Meetings

Costs of attending MDT meetings and liaising with case managers and deputies are recoverable in principle following the appeal in Hadley v Przybylo The original decision in Hadley v Przybylo was reported last year and arose from a costs budgeting dispute. Master McCloud found that the costs of a fee earner attending rehabilitation case management… Continue reading

29th April 2024

Practice Direction 19B – Fixed Costs and Deputy Remuneration in the Court of Protection

When does the Practice Direction apply? This Practice Direction takes effect from 1 April 2024 and applies to matters in which the fixed costs or remuneration period, ends on or after 1 April 2024. However, if you are a Deputy allowed to charge, you should still claim rates according to the previous Practice Directions and… Continue reading

15th April 2024

Interested Parties and what this means for Costs Assessments

In some cases, the Court will stipulate that the receiving party must serve a copy of the request for an assessment and any accompanying documents upon a ‘person who has a financial interest in the outcome of the assessment’, in accordance with Practice Direction 47 and Rule 47.19(3). This person can be known as an… Continue reading