Profile
Position
Costs and civil procedure, professional negligence (including clinical negligence), solicitors regulatory, commercial.
Career
Roger’s practice focuses primarily on all aspects of costs and technical civil procedure issues and more generally on solicitors’ professional conduct matters. He has appeared in many of the leading cases, including Mitchell v NGN and Coventry v Lawrence and is instructed regular in complex and high value costs cases, including in High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court appeals in a range of technical issues. He was counsel for the successful party in the recent case of Bolt Burdon v Tariq, the leading case on non contentious / contingency fee arrangements. He has considerable experience of all aspects of costs law, including solicitor-client costs, group litigation, the costs of office holders, the drafting of agreements and general between the parties costs and in civil procedure rule issues including in relation to relief from sanction, Part 36 and similar matters. He also is instructed in wider cases concerning solicitor’s duties, including in professional negligence matters, disciplinary cases and cases concerning the duties of professional deputies.
Roger is co-author of the White Book supplement ‘Costs and Funding Following the Civil Justice Reforms’. Roger is a regular contributor to a range of publications and regular speaker at major conferences on costs, funding reforms and related issues.
Called to the Bar 1998; Middle Temple.
Memberships
Education
St Bede’s College M/CR; University of Newcastle-U-Tyne (LLB 1st class).
Content supplied by 4 New Square
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are lovely, always friendly and eager to help. Alex Dolby, Dennis Peck, Nick Angliss and Christopher Ebdon all stand out.'
- 'The clerks’ room at 4 New Square provide exceptional service. They are responsive, pragmatic, and commercially aware. James Barrass stands out in particular; he is solutions-focused, knowledgeable about both the barristers' capabilities and the practical realities faced by solicitors, and adept at navigating availability issues with minimal fuss. The clerks' room has always been approachable and efficient, which makes instructing counsel a smooth and well-supported process from start to finish.'
- 'Very good, James Barrass is very dependable.'
- 'The clerking team are consistently excellent. They are responsive, efficient, and always helpful in coordinating work to meet tight deadlines and managing the demands of busy caseloads. Their support ensures a smooth and professional experience throughout.'
- '4 New Square are undoubtedly one of, if not the leading, set for costs matters. Fantastic strength-in-depth at all levels.'
- '4 New Square Chambers is, without question, the leading set in costs litigation. The breadth and depth of expertise across all levels of seniority is unmatched. It is rare to encounter a significant appellate level costs case that does not feature at least one member of chambers. The team’s technical strength is complemented by its commercial insight, making it the go-to set for anything within the costs and litigation funding sphere. The strong pipeline of talent also ensures a consistent and reliable standard of advocacy and advice at both silk and junior levels.'
- '4 New Square Chambers are the number one costs set in the country with in depth expertise for every aspect of costs and litigation funding and at both silk and junior level.'
- '4 New Square have an incredibly strong set of costs silks all of whom have excellent analytical and advocacy skills.'