What is a costs draftsperson?

A costs draftsperson, also known as a law costs draftsman, is a specialist lawyer who can help with the recovery of costs payable as a result of any court case, as well as the negotiation and contesting of legal fees.

At Greener Costs, our team of cost lawyers and cost draftsmen are highly experienced in all areas of legal costs. We assist on a wide range of costs disputes covering many areas of law, from large commercial disputes to clinical negligence, personal injury and other inter partes cases where the losing party pays the successful party’s legal fees.

If you are in need of a skilled costs law firm that prioritises excellent service and client satisfaction, then please get in touch with Greener Costs today to find out how we can assist you.

What does a costs draftsperson do?

A costs draftsperson specialises in the complex process of legal cost assessment. Our expertise encompasses various cost-related matters, such as costs awarded to the winning party, solicitor-client costs in which the solicitor’s fees are payable by the client, and legal aid cases.

Key services offered by a costs draftsperson typically include:

Preparing Costs Budgets: A costs draftsperson prepares and reviews costs budgets, which outline the estimated legal costs for ongoing litigation. They ensure these budgets are reasonable and proportionate, aiding in cost management throughout the case.

Drafting the Bill of Costs: One of their primary tasks is to prepare a bill of costs, which is a detailed breakdown of all expenses incurred during legal proceedings. This document includes solicitor fees, disbursements, and other expenses, forming the basis for recovering costs from the opposing party.

Detailed Assessments: Costs draftspersons are involved in the detailed assessment process, where the bill of costs is scrutinised to determine the amount payable. They ensure that all claimed costs are justified, reasonable, and comply with the relevant rules.

Dealing with Points of Dispute: When a bill of costs is contested, the opposing party may raise points of dispute, challenging the amounts claimed. A costs draftsperson reviews these disputes and responds with arguments to defend the costs, aiming to maximise recovery for their client.

Negotiating Settlements: They often negotiate with the opposing party to settle costs disputes, working toward a fair and reasonable outcome without the need for a formal assessment by the court.

What are the benefits of using a costs draftsperson?

Utilising a costs draftsperson provides several benefits in managing and recovering legal costs, including the following:

Expert Knowledge and Precision: Costs draftspersons have specialised knowledge in legal costs, including understanding intricate rules and procedures around costs budgeting, detailed assessments, and the drafting of bills of costs.

Time Efficiency: Preparing a bill of costs or responding to points of dispute can be time-consuming for solicitors. A costs draftsperson handles these tasks efficiently, allowing solicitors to focus on their primary legal work.

Maximising Cost Recovery: A costs draftsperson ensures that all billable costs are included in the bill of costs, increasing the potential amount recovered.

Expert Negotiation Skills: Costs draftspersons are skilled in negotiating with the opposing party, aiming to settle disputes out of court. This often results in quicker resolutions and reduced litigation costs.

Compliance with Costs Rules: They ensure compliance with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and other relevant regulations during cost assessments, avoiding potential pitfalls that could lead to reduced costs recovery.

Reduced Risk of Cost Challenges: By meticulously preparing the bill of costs and responding to points of dispute, they minimise the risk of costs being challenged or reduced during the detailed assessment process.

A costs draftsperson brings specialised expertise, efficiency, and strategic negotiation skills to the costs recovery process, maximising the chances of successful cost recovery while freeing up solicitors to focus on other aspects of their cases.

How can our team at Greener Costs assist?

Our team of Costs Lawyers and Law Costs Draftsmen possess over 20 years experience specialising in the laws surrounding legal costing and negotiations and are able to assist clients from a range of backgrounds on a variety of legal matters, whether you are the paying party or receiving party.

If your case has been publicly funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), our costs draftsmen can assist you with Legal Aid costs.

We can assist law firms throughout England and Wales through the use of our remote law costing services. Our clients find increased efficiency through the use of our remote service as it provides a pragmatic approach to costing, reducing the time it would take to scan and send an abundance of files. Due to this, we can ensure quick turnaround agreements, which under most circumstances can be much more efficient than clients completing the work themselves in-house.

If you wish to speak to a member of the team here at Greener Costs then please contact us on 01204 263047, info@greenercosts.co.uk or use the online form on our website below.