Just as we were getting used to working from home, juggling childcare, work and slow wifi connections, things are beginning to change again for our businesses. Some of our clients are starting to return to their offices, others have phased returns, while some will be working from home for the foreseeable future. At Paramount, we work to meet the different needs of all our individual clients; our high quality of drafting and advice are always maintained, but a couple of other key areas have been highlighted to help our businesses through the current outbreak of Covid-19: communication and cash flow.
In order to address these two key points, the Litigation Department are:
Cash Flow
- Requesting interim payments on account of costs on client’s behalf when serving Bills of Costs
- Costing files quickly and accurately to start cost proceedings thus enabling a prompt resolution
- Working on behalf of our clients to chase offers and achieve reasonable and proportionate settlements in a reasonable time frame
- Sending client’s BACs details to opponents so prompt payment can be made and received
- Assisting with advice in relation to payments on account of budgeted cases and whether costs orders could be obtained
Communication
- Taking responsibility of specific clients to ensure their needs are met
- Collecting files from any location – home or the office
- Being aware of Court deadlines and requirements to ensure these are met
- Aware of where our clients are currently working and how best to contact them
- Receiving paper or electronic files
- Dealing with budget negotiations electronically
- Receiving instructions in various forms – email, telephone or face to face via video link
- Maintaining contact with our opponents and knowing how best to contact them to ensure no time is lost in settling files
For us, most of the above were well established in our everyday business, but it highlights the importance of good communication and the relationships between Solicitor and Costs Lawyer/Draftsman. I will elaborate on these in some upcoming blogs to provide further information, but if you have any questions in the meantime then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tom Brocklebank, Costs Lawyer & Head of Litigation
Direct Dial: 01228 815394
Email: [email protected]