Our Services

How we can assist

We are trusted legal costs specialists with nationwide reach, advising across a range of work, including high-value and/or catastrophic injuries and disputes, multi-party litigation, and Group Litigation Orders. We take a proactive approach across all stages, from budgeting and cost management and monitoring, to tactical cost support, and then assessment of bills and schedules. 

Our team combines legal expertise with commercial acumen to deliver clear, tailored advice that supports compliance, cash flow, outcomes and cost efficiency. We invest in our people, share insights across the firm, and continuously innovate and explore the latest technology to ensure our service is always leading and consistently drives outstanding results for our clients.

Legal Costs Management

Our Legal Costs Management services are designed to provide complete support throughout the budgeting process. From preparing detailed Precedent H budgets to monitoring ongoing expenditures and attending CCMCs, we partner with our clients to ensure compliance, accuracy, and strategic cost planning. We proactively approach budget discussions and forecasting to protect your position and provide the best possible outcome in line with your case objectives.

Precedent H Costs Budgets

A precedent H costs budget is a detailed plan of the expected legal costs for each phase of the case. It’s the formal court document used to outline and financially plan litigation, ensuring all potential costs and fees are accounted for. 

Our team of experts assists with comprehensive budget planning by preparing accurate and realistic precedent H budgets tailored to your specific case. We include all necessary expenses and justify them clearly, ensuring your budget withstands scrutiny. By getting your budget right from the start and filing on time, we help secure court approval, giving you protection for your costs and maximising your chances of cost recovery later. In short, we ensure that your precedent H budget is precise and strategic, providing a solid foundation for effective cost management.

Precedent R Budget Discussion Report

A precedent R budget discussion report is the follow-up document to the cost budget. It shows areas of agreements and disagreements on each phase’s figures. In plain terms, it’s a summary that highlights where the two sides differ in their planned legal expenditures. 

We will support you by preparing the precedent R report and negotiating with the opposing side. Our cost experts use effective negotiation strategies to narrow gaps, aiming to agree on as many budget items as possible. This proactive dispute resolution step means fewer arguments about costs at the court hearing.

Precedent T Budget Variation

When a case takes an unexpected turn or grows in scope, a previously approved budget might no longer cover the work needed. Precedent T budget variation is the formal process of adjusting a cost budget in light of significant developments. Essentially, it’s an application to the court to revise the agreed financial plan for the case. 

Our team advises when a budget variation is necessary and helps prepare the precedent T. We detail the changes in the case (for example, new evidence, additional witnesses, or extended trial length) and recalculate the costs for the affected phases. Everything is explained clearly to justify why extra resources are required. By handling the precedent T for you, we ensure full legal compliance with the court’s requirements for varying budgets. We strive to get the court’s approval on the revised budget so you maintain protection in court for those additional costs. In short, we ensure that your budget remains accurate and fair throughout the litigation, allowing for effective case management and avoiding unrecoverable expenses.

Costs Management Monitoring

Effective cost control doesn’t end with an approved budget and requires ongoing oversight. Our cost management monitoring service keeps your legal spend on track throughout the life of the case. 

We regularly review actual expenditures against the budget for each phase, providing timely reports and guidance. We help you monitor and control litigation expenses so there are no nasty surprises later. If a particular phase is at risk of going over budget, we alert you early and suggest adjustments or the need for a budget variation. 

This continuous monitoring ensures cost efficiency, allowing you to stay within approved limits and maximise allocated resources. It’s a bit like financial health-checks for your case: our team check that spending aligns with the plan and that you comply with costs rules. By partnering with us for ongoing monitoring, you know that the budget is respected and that you have professional legal support to address any cost-related issues in real time. This proactive approach helps protect your position and keeps the case financially on course.

Legal Costs Disputes

We offer clear, expert guidance and representation through every stage when disputes over legal costs arise. Whether preparing bills of costs, responding to Points of Dispute, engaging in ADR or attending detailed assessments, we combine technical expertise with commercial awareness to resolve issues efficiently. Our team supports receiving parties, handling disputes, applications, and cost negotiations with precision. We focus on minimising delay and delivering fair, cost-effective solutions tailored to your unique circumstances.

Bill of Costs

A bill of costs is a detailed breakdown of all the legal fees and expenses incurred in a case, prepared after the case (or at a key stage) is over. In simple terms, it’s an itemised invoice of the solicitor fees, barrister fees, court fees, and other costs that the winning party asks the losing party to pay. This is a formal legal document following a specific format set by the court. 

Our cost specialists are highly experienced in drafting clear and comprehensive bills of costs. We ensure every recoverable expense, from the most minor court fee to the most significant expert report cost, is included and adequately described. By preparing a meticulous bill, we help maximise your cost recovery. Presenting your case for reimbursement in the strongest possible way. We know the rules and format, so we produce a bill that stands up in court and justifies the costs claimed. Ultimately, a well-prepared bill of costs is key to recovering what you’re owed.

Replies to Points of Dispute

When points of dispute have been served on a bill, the receiving party can answer with replies to points of dispute. This is the document where you defend your costs and respond to each objection the paying party raises. The aim is to justify why each item in your bill is reasonable and should be allowed. 

Our specialists assist receiving parties by preparing thorough yet concise. We utilise our in-depth knowledge of case law and court rules to strengthen your position, ensuring that your responses are supported by authority and fact. 

The tone of our replies remains professional and reasoned, as this can influence how a Costs Judge views the dispute. By submitting strong replies, we help maximise your recovery. This stage also often lays the groundwork for settlement – a well-argued reply can encourage the paying party to compromise, knowing that their challenges have been met with convincing answers. 

In summary, we defend your bill of costs point-by-point, giving you the best chance to secure the full and fair amount you’re due.

Attendance at Detailed Assessment

If the parties cannot agree on costs after exchanging points of dispute and replies, the matter proceeds to a detailed assessment. A thorough assessment is a formal court hearing where a Costs Judge or Master examines the bill of costs and the objections, then decides how much should be paid. It’s essentially a trial of the cost issues and can be pretty intricate. 

Our firm provides skilled advocacy at detailed assessment hearings. We will attend the hearing on your behalf. We draw upon our legal expertise in costs law, citing relevant precedents and emphasising the facts that support your position. 

This is a specialised arena, so having a dedicated cost expert represent you is crucial. We handle everything from cross-referencing voluminous legal documents to articulating why particular work was necessary for the case. We fight to validate your costs and secure the highest possible recovery. We remain focused on detail, clarity, and persuasive argument throughout the process. By entrusting us with the detailed assessment advocacy, you can be confident that no point in your favour is overlooked. Our representation at this court hearing helps ensure the final cost decision is as favourable to you as possible.

Summary Assessment

Not all cost decisions require a full, detailed assessment. Especially after shorter hearings or trials, courts can conduct a summary assessment of costs. This means the Judge will decide how much the winning party should receive for their legal fees based on a brief submitted expense schedule. 

We assist clients in preparing and succeeding at summary assessments. Our team will draft a statement for the party seeking costs (a concise schedule or breakdown of the legal fees and expenses for the hearing or application) in the court’s required format. We ensure this statement is clear and submitted on time, as these factors heavily influence the Judge’s awards.

Our involvement means you will be fully prepared: all figures at your fingertips, all necessary legal advice given in advance. We can also attend the hearing to support counsel in arguing the costs, ensuring nothing is missed in the moment. Our support in the summary assessment results in you swiftly maximising your cost recovery. We help the Judge see what’s fair and reasonable, promoting cost efficiency by resolving costs then and there rather than prolonging the dispute.

Schedules and Breakdowns

In some situations, a formal bill of costs may not be required, but you still need to provide the other side or the court with a clear picture of your legal costs and expenses. This is where schedules and breakdowns of costs come in. A schedule is typically a short-form summary (often used for shorter hearings or more straightforward cases), and a breakdown is an itemised list of costs used in negotiations or when an entire bill is premature. 

We help by preparing detailed yet easy-to-understand cost schedules and breakdowns tailored to your needs. If you want to negotiate costs before incurring the time and expense of an entire bill, we can draft a comprehensive breakdown to share with the other side. 

In negotiations, a well-prepared breakdown can be a strong basis for discussion, often leading to an earlier settlement. In short, we will assemble the information most effectively, whether it’s a formal statement of costs for a hearing or an informal spreadsheet for a meeting. This service is part of our commitment to cost efficiency, giving you the tools to recover your costs with minimal fuss and maximum clarity.

Cost Negotiations

Going through formal court procedures isn’t always the best or most efficient way to resolve a cost dispute. Often, both parties prefer to reach an agreement privately to save time and additional expense. 

Our cost-negotiations service is geared towards achieving a fair deal on legal costs without the need for a judge’s decision. Our cost negotiators are skilled in compromise and backed by deep knowledge of cost law. 

We start by evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your case on costs: which items are payable and which could be contentious. Armed with this analysis, we enter discussions with a clear strategy. We communicate professionally and persuasively with your opponent, using facts and figures as a reminder of what a court would likely do to steer the negotiation in your favour.

Our team’s negotiation strategies might include highlighting risks to the other side and emphasising the benefits of a swift resolution. We will keep you informed throughout the process and consult you on any offers or responses. The goal is to reach a settlement that you are happy with. By resolving costs through direct negotiation, you avoid prolonged uncertainty and the additional legal expenses of a detailed assessment. We also explore alternative avenues like mediation, joint settlement meetings or even legal arbitration of costs if a middle ground is hard to find, always aiming to conclude the matter efficiently. 

In essence, we use our dispute resolution expertise to find a practical agreement, preserving your resources and often preserving a better working relationship between parties post-dispute.

Applications for Payment on Account

After winning a case or at certain interim stages, a client entitled to costs often doesn’t want to wait until the end of a detailed assessment to receive some of their money. Applications for payment on account of costs are a mechanism to address this. In simpler terms, it’s asking the court to order the losing party to pay a portion of the costs upfront, before the final costs figure is determined. This can be crucial for financial planning and cash flow, ensuring the winning party has funds to cover ongoing expenses or simply to not be out-of-pocket for too long. 

We assist clients with these applications. Our team will advise on the appropriate amount to request as a payment on account, typically a reasonable percentage of the likely total costs. We then prepare the necessary application paperwork and evidence to support this request, showing the court that the sum is justified. Our team will argue on your behalf in court if needed, emphasising the fairness of you obtaining some funds immediately. Obtaining a payment on account can significantly help with litigation funding, as it mitigates the strain of legal expenses while waiting for the final assessment.

General Legal Costs Advice

Partners in Costs offers general legal cost advice as a service in its own right. This means that whenever you have a query or need guidance on any cost-related matter, we are here to help. Our staff are up to date with the latest rules, court decisions, and best practices in costs law. We can advise on everything from early budget planning for a new case to strategies for cost recovery in a settled matter to ensuring legal compliance with cost regulations and court orders. No question is too small or too broad. You may need guidance on the likely costs and consequences of a part 36 offer. You may want an expert second opinion on a cost strategy or an estimate of potential exposure in a worst-case scenario. 

We provide clear, practical advice in plain English to help you make informed decisions. Our approach is consultative: we listen to your concerns or objectives and then apply our legal expertise to give you answers and options. Because we deal with cost issues daily across many sectors, we have a wealth of experience to draw on. We also understand the importance of cost efficiency and compliance for law firms and clients. 

When you seek our general costs advice, you can expect prompt and thorough assistance, tailored to your situation. In short, we act as your go-to legal support on costs, giving you confidence and clarity in an often confusing area.

Costs Estimates

Accurately predicting legal costs is a crucial part of case management and client care. Cost estimates are forward-looking assessments of the likely costs incurred in a matter. Solicitors often need to provide these to clients at the start of a case and update them as the case progresses. Sometimes, albeit this is much rarer now, with costs budgeting in place across the Multi-track, the court may direct parties to exchange cost estimates. 

Our team assists in preparing realistic and detailed cost estimates. We gather information about the work anticipated, the tasks to be done, the stages of the case, the professionals involved, and the expected timeframe. 

Using our expertise in budget planning, we then project the fees and disbursements for each phase of the case. The result is an organised estimate that you can rely on for financial planning and decision-making. Providing a sound estimate to your client meets your professional obligations for legal compliance and builds trust. We make sure our estimates are neither overly optimistic nor unnecessarily high; they are grounded in the realities of the case and our extensive experience with similar matters. If circumstances change, we can help update the estimates to reflect new developments. By using our cost-estimating service, lawyers can give their clients a transparent view of potential expenses, and clients can plan or reserve funds appropriately. 

Additionally, having a well-prepared estimate can inform settlement discussions and risk assessments. In summary, we bring legal expertise and analytical precision to forecasting legal costs, helping lawyers and clients handle claims and litigation with eyes wide open to the likely costs involved.

Panel Auditing

For organisations that regularly deal with legal bills, such as insurance companies, large corporations, or public bodies. Panel auditing is essential to ensure cost effectiveness and compliance. When you have a panel of solicitors or law firms handling cases on your behalf, you want to be confident that the fees charged are reasonable and in line with any agreed terms or guidelines. 

Our panel auditing service provides that oversight. We act as independent cost auditors, reviewing invoices and cost schedules submitted by your panel law firms. With a trained eye, we check every aspect of the billing: 

• Hourly rates charged
• Time spent on tasks
• Expenses and disbursements
• Adherence to any legal contracts or service level agreements in place 
• We also consider industry standards and court guideline rates to identify any deviations.

The goal is to promote cost efficiency and law compliance across your panel. After our review, we deliver a report highlighting issues such as overbilling, inefficiencies, or non-compliance with your instructions. We don’t just flag problems; we provide recommendations for resolution, which might involve seeking reductions on particular bills or adjusting future budget planning or case handling practices. In performing these audits, our team draw on extensive experience assessing legal work and its reasonable cost. We understand both the solicitors and the client’s perspectives on value. This balanced approach allows us to facilitate constructive feedback to panel firms. 

Over time, our auditing helps foster more cost-effective claim handling. Firms become more disciplined in recording and charging time, knowing that an expert will review their bills. For the client, the benefit is significant savings and assurance that they only pay for what’s necessary and appropriate.

Additionally, our audits can prepare you for any potential dispute resolution or legal arbitration over fees, as our findings carry weight and can be used as evidence if needed. 

Panel auditing by Partners in Costs is about protecting your financial interests and maintaining high standards. We serve as a quality control checkpoint for legal spending, helping to put robust legal cost management at the heart of your relationship with panel law firms.

Ready to Talk?

If you have a legal costs matter you’d like to discuss, whether it’s budgeting, dispute resolution, or anything in between, our expert team is here to help. We take pride in offering practical, tailored results and client care advice.

Contact us today to find out how we can support you. However large or small your costs issue is, we’ll work with you to achieve the best possible outcome.