Practical Law

Lord Justice Birss is a man with a lot of influence over the world of costs right now. Not only is he the Deputy Head of Civil Justice, but he also chairs the Civil Procedure Rule Committee and the Civil Justice Council’s (CJC) current costs review. So he had a lot to talk about when … Continue reading Association of Costs Lawyers’ annual conference 2022 →

For all the costs reform we have seen over the past two decades, there remains plenty of scope for more, and the Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, last month made clear his intention to take this forward – and potentially in a radical way. Giving the keynote address to the Association of Costs … Continue reading Association of Costs Lawyers Annual Conference: Further costs reform in the offing →

The Debt Respite Scheme introduced as part of COVID-19 related regulations last year will not protect a party from being ordered to make a payment on account of costs. The Axnoller v Brake litigation has provided several judgments in 2021. However, rather than analysing the most recent judgment at the time of writing (providing hard … Continue reading Can’t pay? The court will make the order anyway. The march of the payment on account goes on →

The Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO), like all courts, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. As with many other courts, the SCCO is doing its level best to keep the wheels of justice turning, by embracing remote hearings, electronic filing, and new practices. The court is coping well, likely assisted by … Continue reading A costs lawyer’s guide to the SCCO during COVID-19 →