http://www.dbcosting.co.uk http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/bte-insurers-losing-grip-on-choice-of-solicitor-and-charge-out-rates-after-key-ruling http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/bte-insurers-losing-grip-on-choice-of-solicitor-and-charge-out-rates-after-key-ruling This is the interesting headline which caught my eye in the latest Legal Futures newsletter. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:07:23 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/where-has-this-month-gone http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/where-has-this-month-gone This has been a very busy month for the team at Deborah Burke Costing Limited. We have seen lots of work coming through the office and some interesting technical work for me to get my teeth into. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:50:41 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/when-is-a-ban-not-a-ban http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/when-is-a-ban-not-a-ban Please tell me I am not the only one who read about the last minute decision to go for a full ban on referral fees with more than a little cynicism. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:18:07 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/nhsla-negligence-pilot http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/nhsla-negligence-pilot I was interested to read recently about a possible pilot scheme for dealing with clinical negligence cases valued at up to £25,000.00. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:47:02 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-57th-update-to-the-civil-procedure-rules http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-57th-update-to-the-civil-procedure-rules 57 updates to the CPR – it’s enough to make anyone feel old! Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:07:50 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-role-of-the-costs-lawyer-in-the-post-jackson-world http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-role-of-the-costs-lawyer-in-the-post-jackson-world The Association of Costs Lawyers is holding a seminar on 14th October 2011 at Holborn Bars, London and which is titled “The Costs Lawyer’s role after Jackson”. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:01:42 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/time-recording http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/time-recording Proper time recording of legal work is the cornerstone of recovering costs and making a profit. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:50:41 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-perils-of-underestimating-costs http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-perils-of-underestimating-costs I have written before about the provisions of section 6.5A of the Costs Practice Direction (http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/courts-and-tribunals/courts/procedure-rules/civil/contents/practice_directions/pd_parts43-48.htm#IDA1WUIC). Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:45:59 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/achieving-gain-or-avoiding-pain http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/achieving-gain-or-avoiding-pain This was the title of a recent blog entry I received from a local marketing company and it set me thinking about what makes receiving parties send us their work. There is an obvious connection between a well drawn and accurate bill of costs which will, clearly, help the firm maximise the profit element of a case, but how does avoiding pain come into it? Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:50:48 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/are-you-losing-interest http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/are-you-losing-interest The recent flurry of comment on the costs cases which indicate that interest is not recoverable where the matter has been funded by a conditional fee agreement seems to be settling down again, but for receiving party solicitors, the impact of failing to recover interest on costs has probably not yet begun to bite. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:50:30 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/tell-me-why-i-should-instruct-deborah-burke-costing-limited-to-prepare-my-firm-s-bills-of-costs http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/tell-me-why-i-should-instruct-deborah-burke-costing-limited-to-prepare-my-firm-s-bills-of-costs This is a familiar question for me as I meet with (prospective) clients and one which I know I would ask if the shoe was on the other foot. A recent testimonial from one of our clients sums us up nicely:- “I wish to compliment you and your excellent colleagues for providing an efficient and informed costs service ….. The standard of care, the friendliness and courtesy of your personnel, reflect a professional and committed approach to what is a difficult legal arena …..” Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:37:12 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/interest-the-end-of-the-debate http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/interest-the-end-of-the-debate The judgment of the Senior Costs Judge on CFA interest in the Trafigura case makes an interesting read (if you have the time and inclination). It follows hot on the heels of the judgments on interest given in the Gray v Toner and Bridle v Ikhlas cases and this case’s conclusions on interest are not entirely unanticipated. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:36:46 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/part-36-offers-and-the-implications-of-the-same http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/part-36-offers-and-the-implications-of-the-same I don’t always read my Law Society Gazette from cover to cover, but when I do, I inevitably find something useful. District Judge Graeme Smith’s recent article about... Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:33:52 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/costs-judges-against-the-jackson-reforms http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/costs-judges-against-the-jackson-reforms So says the headline on the front page of last week’s Law Society Gazette. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:33:16 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/what-s-this-i-hear-an-increase-in-hourly-rates http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/what-s-this-i-hear-an-increase-in-hourly-rates Amidst the general doom and gloom, some potentially good news. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:32:53 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/planning-to-continue-recovering-inter-partes-success-fees-you-may-have-to-think-again http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/planning-to-continue-recovering-inter-partes-success-fees-you-may-have-to-think-again The briefing note I prepared on the MGN Limited v United Kingdom case... Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:32:04 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/risk-assessments-in-the-post-mgn-limited-v-united-kingdom-world http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/risk-assessments-in-the-post-mgn-limited-v-united-kingdom-world I mentioned success fees on a few occasions recently both in my Blogs and in our newsletter, “Costs Analysis”. Of course, we are all still... Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:31:37 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/outcomes-focussed-regulation http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/outcomes-focussed-regulation I have been reading with interest and some trepidation about the new “outcomes focussed regulation” that solicitors (and Costs Lawyers) will be subject to... Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:30:14 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/jackson-to-be-implemented-in-full-well-almost http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/jackson-to-be-implemented-in-full-well-almost Just in case you missed the significance of yesterday’s announcement from the Ministry of Justice, a good summary can be found on the Legal Futures website... Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:28:42 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-guidance http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-guidance The Law Society has just issued new guidance on VAT which can be found by following this link:- Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:28:16 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-maximum-fee-principle http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-maximum-fee-principle A little bird has just whispered in my ear that the Legal Services Commission has a new and cunning plan to reduce its costs by applying the maximum fee principle “to the letter of the law.. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:27:49 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-on-medical-services http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-on-medical-services Accounts departments up and down the land can breathe a collective sigh of relief following the very recent decent decision in the case of Barratt Goff and Tomlinson v HMRC. This decision... Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:27:02 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/charging-a-success-fee-may-breach-the-paying-party-s-human-rights http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/charging-a-success-fee-may-breach-the-paying-party-s-human-rights An amazing headline I know but the decision of the ECHR in the case of MGN Limited v United Kingdom (Application No. 39401/04) seems to say just that, certainly so far as defamation cases are... Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:26:23 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/10-am-on-tuesdays-the-lawyers-nadir http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/10-am-on-tuesdays-the-lawyers-nadir I found myself smiling recently when I read about some new research which has concluded that 10 am on a Tuesday is the most stressful time of the working week, prompting an astonishing 1 in 3 to... Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:25:53 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/positive-feedback http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/positive-feedback One of our draftsmen has just been told that some legal aid bills she prepared for one of our clients have been assessed as drawn by the Legal Services Commission. That in itself is a major... Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:25:20 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-change http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/vat-change For some straightforward guidance on the implications of the recent increase in VAT, please see the Law Society’s recent practice note (... Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:24:55 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/clifford-chance-microsoft-tie-up http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/clifford-chance-microsoft-tie-up I was intrigued to see the widespread reporting in the legal press of the Clifford Chance/Microsoft IT collaboration (... Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:24:25 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/costs-analysis http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/costs-analysis As I write this entry, the finishing touches are being put to the latest edition of Costs Analysis. This is the first issue of 2011 and in order to increase the potential reach of this... Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:23:46 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/2011-what-will-the-year-hold-for-uk-lawyers http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/2011-what-will-the-year-hold-for-uk-lawyers The front page of this week’s Law Society Gazette makes gloomy reading – up to two thirds of firms will be leaving the conveyancing market this year and the annual benchmarking survey... Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:23:21 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/are-part-36-offers-more-trouble-than-they-are-worth http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/are-part-36-offers-more-trouble-than-they-are-worth In Lord Justice Jackson’s report (gosh, it’s been published for more than a year now), he makes clear his view that the Carver decision should be reversed. Last year also... Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:22:29 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/obtaining-a-final-costs-certificate http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/obtaining-a-final-costs-certificate I recently had to look very carefully at the procedure for obtaining a final costs certificate in a case where the amount of costs had been agreed but not the timing or method of... Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:21:56 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/why-would-experts-be-engaged-in-hot-tubbing http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/why-would-experts-be-engaged-in-hot-tubbing The more descriptive, albeit boring, title for this practice is “concurrent expert evidence”. So what is that I hear you ask? Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:21:34 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/a-timely-reminder http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/a-timely-reminder I was interested to read an interview with Sarah Wilkinson recently. Sarah is the FD at Field Fisher Waterhouse and her article covers a wide range of issues relevant to legal... Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:21:13 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/contingency-fees-are-on-their-way http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/contingency-fees-are-on-their-way Well, that’s certainly the impression given by Ken Clarke, the Justice Secretary, when he spoke to the BBC last week. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:20:38 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/distance-selling-regulations http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/distance-selling-regulations The costing world is not so very different from other arenas, particularly when a “novel” point is discovered. For a few months now I have been seeing a steady... Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:20:14 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/amendments-to-the-cpr http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/amendments-to-the-cpr The Civil Procedures Rules are, of course, more than 10 years old now and it still amazes me to see how many amendments to the Rules there have been – the most recent set which are effective... Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:19:44 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-civil-justice-council-and-the-ministry-of-justice-s-advisory-committee-on-civil-costs http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/the-civil-justice-council-and-the-ministry-of-justice-s-advisory-committee-on-civil-costs Apparently, uncertainty still prevails as to whether the Civil Justice Council will survive the quango cutting regime of the coalition government. Sun, 17 Oct 2010 16:19:19 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/hourly-rates-are-sky-high-again http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/hourly-rates-are-sky-high-again I have seen several different legal commentators (including The Costs Lawyer, the Association of Law Costs Draftsman’s in-house publication), pick up on the results of the 2010 hourly rate... Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:18:48 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/unqualified-advocates http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/unqualified-advocates Having got back into the office and having made a start on catching up on my post, my attention turned this morning to the latest edition of the Law Society Gazette. In it,... Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:18:22 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/success-at-olympia http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/success-at-olympia Back in the office today after a very productive time at Law Autumn 2010 at the Olympia Conference centre in London. It was great to share my speaking platform with Dominic... Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:17:19 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/speaking-at-olympia http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/speaking-at-olympia Well, the exhibition at Olympia is going really well. Lots of interesting people to talk to and it’s particularly good to speak to prospective as well as existing clients –... Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:14:50 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/showcase-at-olympia http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/showcase-at-olympia This is an exciting week for the team at Deborah Burke Costing Ltd… we have a stand at Law Autumn 2010 at the Olympia Conference centre in London. We... Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:14:03 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/provisional-assessment-of-bills http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/provisional-assessment-of-bills Some of you may already be aware of the Provisional Assessment Pilot Scheme which is now running in courts in the Leeds area. The bare bones of the... Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:11:21 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/freedom-of-choice-for-bte-clients http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/freedom-of-choice-for-bte-clients I’m not a great follower of the European Court but recently a judgment caught my eye which will be of potential significance to many claimant lawyers. Last September, the... Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:10:42 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/different-ways-of-working http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/different-ways-of-working I have been fascinated to read in the legal press over the course of this summer about how many new and different ways of marketing firms are becoming involved in. QualitySolicitors (an alliance... Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:10:07 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/clinical-negligence-litigation-a-battleground-in-the-making http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/clinical-negligence-litigation-a-battleground-in-the-making Lord Justice Jackson sets out his two objectives in relation to this area of litigation as being to ensure that victims or clinical negligence have access to justice and that this huge area of... Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:09:39 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/guideline-hourly-rates-we-re-in-for-a-bumpy-ride http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/guideline-hourly-rates-we-re-in-for-a-bumpy-ride Most of chapter 44 of the Jackson report relates to the subject matter of the heading – summary assessment. However, rather curiously to my mind, the chapter also deals with guideline hourly... Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:09:09 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/summary-assessment-a-big-thumbs-up http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/summary-assessment-a-big-thumbs-up Yesterday I wrote about the proposed changes to the detailed assessment process. Of course Lord Justice Jackson has also had a good look at the existing procedure for summary assessment... Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:08:32 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/detailed-assessment-will-it-become-a-thing-of-the-past http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/detailed-assessment-will-it-become-a-thing-of-the-past In my entry last Friday I looked at Lord Justice Jackson's proposals for establishing a Costs Council. Lord Justice Jackson envisages the cost of the Costs Council being met from various... Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:07:54 +0000 http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/new-costs-council-to-be-established http://www.dbcosting.co.uk/blog/new-costs-council-to-be-established Lord Justice Jackson is recommending that the Advisory Committee on Civil Costs should be disbanded and a Costs Council established. This step was proposed as long ago as August 2005 when it was... Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:07:30 +0000