Offering a ‘costs team that is second to none’, 4 New Square Chambers continue to be the pre-eminent set in this area, offering an unparalleled depth of expertise at both silk and junior level and regularly appearing on significant Court of Appeal and Supreme Court cases. Nicholas Bacon KC has recently acted in BSV Claims v Bittylicious Ltd and others, a major CAT class action and the UK’s first crypto-related collective proceedings, with the claim of collusion alleging to have caused close to £10bn in losses. In Belsner v Cam Legal, Benjamin Williams KC led George McDonald , with the pair successfully appealing to reverse the High Court’s decision that solicitors were subject to fiduciary duties when negotiating their own terms and business, entitling solicitors to deduct full reasonable costs from lower value personal injury claims. Both Robert Marven KC and Matthew Waszak acted in AKC v Barking, a significant test case before the Court of Appeal regarding the information bills of costs must contain in order to comply with CPR requirements. Theo Barclay, being led by Bacon KC, represented the Danish Customs and Tax Administration in the highly publicised SKAT litigation, where the costs bill in favour of the defendants on the indemnity basis totalled £46m.
Costs in
London Bar
4 New Square Chambers
Testimonials
‘Excellent service, great relationships with the clerks. Chambers meeting rooms are made available on the day of a hearing providing conferences room, before, at lunch and after the hearing. The service is impeccable.’
‘James Barras and Jack Boggins in particular are utterly fantastic and the model of what a modern clerk should be. They are attentive, sensible and good fun.’
‘Excellent service form the clerking team throughout. Perry Allen is a joy to work with.’
‘Denis Peck will go out of his way to accommodate and find solutions to any issues.’
‘4NS are simply the number one costs set in the country – bar none.’
‘4 New Square are the go-to chambers in costs disputes. I have known the clerks and many of the barristers for a number of years and having them on your side is a massive boost in any case.’
‘4NS is the premier costs set.
‘The Costs team at 4 New Square is second to none.
Hailsham Chambers
Hailsham Chambers are a ‘go-to set for costs related matters’, where in addition to the highly regarded advocacy on major precedent-setting cases, members are valued for their advisory and drafting skills, frequently handling complex retainers and funding arrangements on which the recovery of millions of pounds of fees may depend. The ‘wonderful’ Jamie Carpenter KC successfully defeated a High Court appeal in Diag Human & Stava v Volterra Fietta, with the ruling that it was not possible to sever the hourly rate part of a retainer with an unenforceable success fee. Alexander Hutton KC acted for the appellant in Harrison v University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, with the Court of Appeal handing down a ruling in December 2022 that compensation as part of a settlement, like as part of an award of damages, cannot be set off against litigation costs in cases where qualified one-way costs shifting applies. At junior level, Joshua Munro faced senior opposition in McGuinness v Mawer, a long-running case that saw the High Court find that disclosure of a CFA is no longer the norm where there is no inter partes success fee.
Testimonials
‘Stephen Smith is always available and keen to assist.’
‘Michael Kilby is excellent – helpful, reliable and knowledgeable.’
‘I have found all of the clerks – and in particular Stuart Paley – to be responsive, clear and helpful.’
‘Excellent service, fast, friendly, responsive and wholly in tune with the needs of their instructing solicitors; a seamless part of the legal team.’
‘Hailsham’s strength in depth on costs and retainer issues is unmatched.’
‘One of, if not the best costs set in the country. Great strength in depth.’
The costs team is smaller than others but excellent and they have a rigorous process to identify the junior talent.’
Excellent costs practice at Hailsham, second to none for depth of expertise and experience.’
Work highlights
39 Essex Chambers
With considerable expertise in costs issues arising from group litigation, 39 Essex Chambers’ well established costs practice sees its members regularly appearing before the SCCO, High Court, CAT, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court; as well as a strong international arbitration presence, especially in the Middle East and Asia. Simon Browne KC represented the claimant in AKC v Barking and Redbridge NHS Trust, a significant case before the Court of Appeal concerning electronic bills of costs that do not identify individual fee earners. Vikram Sachdeva KC acted for the appellant in Bushby v Galazi, a High Court case which developed on the Court of Appeal’s guidance in Glover v Baker concerning the impact of litigation friends on costs responsibilities. In RPB v HMRC, Nicola Greaney KC continues to represent HMRC in a significant case for after-the-event premiums recoverability in publication and privacy proceedings.
Testimonials
‘I needed an urgent advice and the clerk, Tom Gibbons, responded to me very quickly with availability of suitable counsel.’
‘The service provided by clerks is excellent. My primary contact has been Alastair Davidson, the most senior clerk, who is excellent.’
‘Superb clerking. Approachable, friendly, solution driven and satisfaction focussed. Commercially savvy and driven to impress. What more could a client want?’
‘The clerks are approachable, reliable and always go that extra mile to provide service.’
‘39 Essex Chambers is an excellent top-rank set. It is the largest set in London and widely regarded as the top mixed-disciplinary practice set in the country.’
‘The set is known for its specialist costs counsel.’
‘In relation to costs work where a London barrister is required, 39 Essex Chambers is my first port of call.’
Work highlights
Gatehouse Chambers
With specialists at all levels of call, the costs team at Gatehouse Chambers are frequently instructed on the most high-profile and complex appellate cases. PJ Kirby KC appeared before the Supreme Court in PACCAR Inc v Road Haulage Association Ltd, with the court declaring that litigation funding agreements that entitle funders to payment based on damages recovered amount to damages-based agreements, which are therefore unenforceable unless complying with the DBA regulatory regime, a judgment with significant ramifications for UK litigation funders and claimant law firms. Following on from the highly-publicised Belsner case, Robin Dunne is acting as sole counsel in Edwards & Ors v Slater & Gordon; a test case clarifying for the first time that disclosure under Part 31 CPR applies to solicitor and client claims and that claimant firms taking these cases do not do so illegally.
Testimonials
‘Their clerks are always helpful and cover each other so they are responsive and quick.’
‘The clerks are great.’
‘Their overall costs team is strong.’
‘Their costs team is very good.’
‘Gatehouse is one of my go-to sets. The strength and depth of their counsel is superb.’
Temple Garden Chambers
Temple Garden Chambers has a long-established presence in the costs space, with members regularly appearing before the senior courts costs office and regional costs judges, as well as handling costs disputes arising from substantial litigation. Mark James is frequently instructed to advise on cases that raise complex legal and technical issues, such as litigation funding agreements. James Laughland is highly sought-after by leading legal expenses insurers to advise on how best to respond to challenges to after-the-event insurance premiums and other funding arrangements.
Testimonials
‘The clerks and the receptionists are pleasant to work with and provide an excellent service. Thomas Neale is an outstanding clerk.’
‘The standard across the whole set is very high.’
4 New Square Chambers
Testimonials
‘Excellent service, great relationships with the clerks. Chambers meeting rooms are made available on the day of a hearing providing conferences room, before, at lunch and after the hearing. The service is impeccable.’
‘James Barras and Jack Boggins in particular are utterly fantastic and the model of what a modern clerk should be. They are attentive, sensible and good fun.’
‘Excellent service form the clerking team throughout. Perry Allen is a joy to work with.’
‘Denis Peck will go out of his way to accommodate and find solutions to any issues.’
‘4NS are simply the number one costs set in the country – bar none.’
‘4 New Square are the go-to chambers in costs disputes. I have known the clerks and many of the barristers for a number of years and having them on your side is a massive boost in any case.’
‘4NS is the premier costs set.
‘The Costs team at 4 New Square is second to none.
Hailsham Chambers
Hailsham Chambers are a ‘go-to set for costs related matters’, where in addition to the highly regarded advocacy on major precedent-setting cases, members are valued for their advisory and drafting skills, frequently handling complex retainers and funding arrangements on which the recovery of millions of pounds of fees may depend. The ‘wonderful’ Jamie Carpenter KC successfully defeated a High Court appeal in Diag Human & Stava v Volterra Fietta, with the ruling that it was not possible to sever the hourly rate part of a retainer with an unenforceable success fee. Alexander Hutton KC acted for the appellant in Harrison v University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, with the Court of Appeal handing down a ruling in December 2022 that compensation as part of a settlement, like as part of an award of damages, cannot be set off against litigation costs in cases where qualified one-way costs shifting applies. At junior level, Joshua Munro faced senior opposition in McGuinness v Mawer, a long-running case that saw the High Court find that disclosure of a CFA is no longer the norm where there is no inter partes success fee.
Testimonials
‘Stephen Smith is always available and keen to assist.’
‘Michael Kilby is excellent – helpful, reliable and knowledgeable.’
‘I have found all of the clerks – and in particular Stuart Paley – to be responsive, clear and helpful.’
‘Excellent service, fast, friendly, responsive and wholly in tune with the needs of their instructing solicitors; a seamless part of the legal team.’
‘Hailsham’s strength in depth on costs and retainer issues is unmatched.’
‘One of, if not the best costs set in the country. Great strength in depth.’
The costs team is smaller than others but excellent and they have a rigorous process to identify the junior talent.’
Excellent costs practice at Hailsham, second to none for depth of expertise and experience.’
Work highlights
39 Essex Chambers
With considerable expertise in costs issues arising from group litigation, 39 Essex Chambers’ well established costs practice sees its members regularly appearing before the SCCO, High Court, CAT, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court; as well as a strong international arbitration presence, especially in the Middle East and Asia. Simon Browne KC represented the claimant in AKC v Barking and Redbridge NHS Trust, a significant case before the Court of Appeal concerning electronic bills of costs that do not identify individual fee earners. Vikram Sachdeva KC acted for the appellant in Bushby v Galazi, a High Court case which developed on the Court of Appeal’s guidance in Glover v Baker concerning the impact of litigation friends on costs responsibilities. In RPB v HMRC, Nicola Greaney KC continues to represent HMRC in a significant case for after-the-event premiums recoverability in publication and privacy proceedings.
Testimonials
‘I needed an urgent advice and the clerk, Tom Gibbons, responded to me very quickly with availability of suitable counsel.’
‘The service provided by clerks is excellent. My primary contact has been Alastair Davidson, the most senior clerk, who is excellent.’
‘Superb clerking. Approachable, friendly, solution driven and satisfaction focussed. Commercially savvy and driven to impress. What more could a client want?’
‘The clerks are approachable, reliable and always go that extra mile to provide service.’
‘39 Essex Chambers is an excellent top-rank set. It is the largest set in London and widely regarded as the top mixed-disciplinary practice set in the country.’
‘The set is known for its specialist costs counsel.’
‘In relation to costs work where a London barrister is required, 39 Essex Chambers is my first port of call.’
Work highlights
Gatehouse Chambers
With specialists at all levels of call, the costs team at Gatehouse Chambers are frequently instructed on the most high-profile and complex appellate cases. PJ Kirby KC appeared before the Supreme Court in PACCAR Inc v Road Haulage Association Ltd, with the court declaring that litigation funding agreements that entitle funders to payment based on damages recovered amount to damages-based agreements, which are therefore unenforceable unless complying with the DBA regulatory regime, a judgment with significant ramifications for UK litigation funders and claimant law firms. Following on from the highly-publicised Belsner case, Robin Dunne is acting as sole counsel in Edwards & Ors v Slater & Gordon; a test case clarifying for the first time that disclosure under Part 31 CPR applies to solicitor and client claims and that claimant firms taking these cases do not do so illegally.
Testimonials
‘Their clerks are always helpful and cover each other so they are responsive and quick.’
‘The clerks are great.’
‘Their overall costs team is strong.’
‘Their costs team is very good.’
‘Gatehouse is one of my go-to sets. The strength and depth of their counsel is superb.’
Temple Garden Chambers
Temple Garden Chambers has a long-established presence in the costs space, with members regularly appearing before the senior courts costs office and regional costs judges, as well as handling costs disputes arising from substantial litigation. Mark James is frequently instructed to advise on cases that raise complex legal and technical issues, such as litigation funding agreements. James Laughland is highly sought-after by leading legal expenses insurers to advise on how best to respond to challenges to after-the-event insurance premiums and other funding arrangements.
Testimonials
‘The clerks and the receptionists are pleasant to work with and provide an excellent service. Thomas Neale is an outstanding clerk.’
‘The standard across the whole set is very high.’