Practico

Sector knowledge

Andy Ellis

Andy is a key industry figure and continues to be the go-to costs lawyer for many leading law firms and general counsel, who value his incisive input and direction on what are often complex technical and strategic issues arising within high value costs litigation. Andy has been working in costs since 1991, he co-founded Practico in 2011 and he was at the forefront of the development of electronic techniques to improve both clarity and functionality within the costs field. Andy combines deep technical knowledge with a pragmatic, client-focused approach. Under Andy’s leadership, the Practico team continues to grow and increase both the depth of its expertise and the breadth of its experience in traditional and emerging areas of costs litigation. During 2024, as well as continuing to be involved in major projects with high profile clients, Andy guided the company as it transitioned to employee ownership and he is now a trustee and director of the company. Looking to the future, Andy will continue to work with Practico’s clients on major projects and with his Practico colleagues to encourage every team member to contribute, innovate, and share in Practico’s collective success.

Francesca Ellis

Francesca is a Director of Practico and shares the leadership of the operations team with Ed Marrow. After joining the Company in 2012 she took on an integral role on our major Group and Collective action projects, notably for the defendants in the phone-hacking cases involving News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers. Since the summer of 2024 Francesca has co-ordinated the vast budgeting exercise in the Dieselgate litigation where Practico is instructed by several vehicle manufacturers. Her technical skills include the analysis and cross-analysis of complex costs information, and the design of client-friendly reports, which enable her to work seamlessly with specialist counsel on costs submissions and hearing preparation. In addition to leading the firm’s technical development, Francesca is a qualified Costs Lawyer. Prior to specialising in costs, she passed her LPC with commendation having also graduated in law at Nottingham Law School. In 2023 Francesca successfully completed an MBA Essentials course run by LSE.

James Heawood

James Heawood, a law graduate and qualified Costs Lawyer, joined Practico in 2014 and brought technical and advocacy experience, having worked in costs both in-house and in the independent sector from 2005. As a Senior Associate, James has direct and supervisory duties on Practico’s major projects. He is often the principal day to day contact for clients and works closely with Ed and Francesca on supervision and project management. The variety of work that James undertakes includes: • major paying party instructions straddling several years (as a regular member of our team working on the mobile phone hacking litigation), • extensive collective action budgeting (Dieselgate) and • high value receiving party work (Federal Republic of Nigeria v P&ID and others). James takes a particular interest in the development of junior team members and his thoughtful approach and technical knowledge is well regarded by clients and colleagues.

Ed Marrow

Ed Marrow has worked exclusively in costs since 2000 and joined Ellis Grant (the legacy firm that became Practico) in 2003. His experience is therefore both extensive and varied, covering written and oral advocacy and strategic advice from early years in county courts, in specialist tribunals, most divisions of the High Court and appellate matters including Supreme Court and Privy Council. Ed is very well respected both outside and within the firm for his calm approach and all-round ability. He was a natural choice to take on the co-ordination and resourcing of the firm’s portfolio. When Practico moved to employee ownership in 2024, Ed was appointed a director of the company and a trustee of Practico’s Employee Ownership Trust. Alongside the operational leadership role he shares with Francesca Ellis, Ed continues to take a direct role in the business’s larger projects including Group and Collective actions and high-value commercial litigation.

James Parr