Keoghs LLP fields a sizeable team which is strong when it comes to complex injury, disease and historic abuse costs claims, acting for clients in the insurance and regulated services sectors. The team also frequently engages with the Civil Justice Council and Ministry of Justice over areas such as costs reforms. Howard Dean, who is ‘one of the foremost figures in the world of costs’, leads the team alongside Steven Dawson, who focuses on property risks and coverage, Ben Petrecz, an expert in complex injury claims, and Paul Edwards, who stands out for his work on costs arising out of abuse and disease claims, and Elise Ellson.

Masters Legal Costs Services LLP handles the full range of costs matters, from recovery and opposition of costs to costs budgets, and is particularly well known for its experience in high-profile group litigation and in proceedings in the Caribbean (thanks to its Grand Cayman office). Managing partner Philip Daval-Bowden, who is ‘a great strategist‘, is particularly skilled in international litigation and arbitration with a Caribbean element. Other key names to note include group litigation specialist David Platnauer, costs management and budgeting expert Natalie Swales and Nico Myburgh, who frequently deals with high-quantum costs claims.

Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP‘s costs work often revolves around the firm's serious injury caseload; the team has ‘a wealth of experience in specialist personal injury’ and is also skilled in clinical negligence claims. At the helm is Sam Hayman, who is an accomplished litigator ‘at the forefront of high-level costs litigation‘ and frequently represents clients before the High Court and the Supreme Court Costs Office. He is well supported by Tom Jenkinson and Jack Ridgway, both of whom are experienced in litigation.

Boutique costs firm Civil and Commercial Costs Lawyers Ltd has wide-ranging expertise in commercial costs litigation, Solicitors Act assessments, medical negligence and personal injury claims, public law and housing disrepair claims. The group has a deep bench of dedicated cost lawyers, led by Andrew Thomas, a highly experienced litigator and an expert in the field of solicitor and own client costs; Anil Virji, who is lauded as ‘especially efficient and helpful on key areas to be aware of under the Cayman Islands costs rules’; Ria Hindocha; and Martin Harris head up the team.

At Clarion, the growing, national offering specialises in costs litigation (including costs management), Court of Protection legal costs and litigation funding, and is highlighted for its ‘focus on the key aspects to ensure that the recovery of costs is properly managed and assessed’. At the head of the practice, Andrew McAulay, based in Leeds, is a go-to practitioner for assessment proceedings, solicitor and own client costs and litigation funding, Stephanie Kaye, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, is a standout contact for Court of Protection costs, and Joanne Chase has extensive experience in medical negligence and personal injury cases.

Clyde & Co is praised for its 'expertise in a wide range of litigation, from the heaviest commercial litigation down to small insurance claims'. The team specialises in casualty, commercial and D&O claims, fielding a sizeable team split into a commercial costs group, a casualty costs group, and a Scottish costs group. Paul Wainwright heads up the overall practice, often handling high-profile audits, D&O monitoring and complex litigation, including group claims.

Keith Bintley Limited is commended for its assistance to many leading law firms with a wide range of costs matters, covering commercial, insurance, catastrophic injuries, matrimonial, and contentious trusts and probate costs. Keith Bintley and John Ivory lead the team; the pair are ‘extremely knowledgeable and keep themselves up to date with developments up to the minute‘, and are both well versed in litigation, including cross-border cases.

Kingsley Napley LLP houses a multidisciplinary team of costs lawyers ‘with expertise across an unusually wide range of practice areas‘, including reputation management, commercial litigation, private client, family and criminal matters. As well as substantive and detailed assessment proceedings, practitioners are able to handle funding agreements and costs estimates. Practice head Michael Tyler has a wealth of experience in costs law, and is well supported by the ‘talented‘ Charlotte Ioannou, who has a particular specialism in civil litigation.

Croft Solicitors, a practice which mainly acts for those receiving costs, is notable for its experience in a variety of costs litigation, particularly related to high-value claimant personal injury and asbestos cases. Practice group head Tom Blackburn ‘is a robust litigator and a very able advocate’, with additional skills in alternative dispute resolution and mediation. Emma Plant is another key figure in the team, utilising prior experience in insurance companies.

Harmans is engaged to handle costs work in a range of industries, including costs budgeting, case management, Part 8 proceedings and detailed assessments. Matthew Harman, who leads the team alongside Sara Gould and Steve Jones, ‘knows how to deal with and negotiate very complex and detailed bills‘, and the wider group is also praised for its ‘detailed and thorough‘ bill drafting. Jones is a go-to lawyer for costs matters in the clinical negligence and personal injury space, and Mathew Knight is also often instructed in high-value clinical negligence matters, including group actions.

Demonstrating ‘excellent client and cost management‘, Horwich Farrelly is at the forefront of the new fixed costs regime. Practice group head Paul McCarthy, who is ‘excellent at analysing, communicating, costing and detailing his approach‘, has extensive experience across all aspects of costs litigation, with strength in costs matters relating to insurance, personal injury, and clinical negligence. Ashliegh Beaver advises both paying and receiving parties in costs management and end-stage costs negotiation.

Predominantly based in Sheffield, Irwin Mitchell‘s sizeable team provides a full service and assists clients with the full life cycle of costs litigation, from funding and costs estimation all the way through to the conclusion of the litigation. Practice head Steven Green concentrates on high-value claims for costs arising from catastrophic personal injury and medical negligence cases. The team also includes Ian Gilbert, a key name to note for recovering costs in high-value personal injury cases, and Darren Malone, who frequently represents clients in costs hearings.

Kain Knight is lauded for its 'depth of personnel and knowledge', particularly in personal injury and clinical negligence-related cost disputes, and is also skilled at handling a range of high-value commercial cost disputes, as well as seeing a recent increase in Court of Protection cost matters. Matthew Kain leads the team, which also includes Andrew Bennetts, ‘an outstanding costs lawyer, who deals with the preparation of final bills of costs efficiently‘, and Francis Kendall, an experienced commercial costs lawyer.

KE Costs Lawyers is a boutique costs practice with offices in Leeds and Liverpool, handling cost cases arising from civil litigation as well as commercial and private disputes, and appearing in a range of cost hearings. Liverpool-based firm founder Tom Mullin is at the helm. Together with Jon Powell, he is able to handle all aspects of costs matters, from drafting and negotiation all the way through to acting in court.

Shoosmiths LLP‘s costs team works closely with the firm’s serious injury group and is adept at dealing with the costs arising from high-value and complex clinical negligence litigation. In addition, the team is increasingly being instructed on high-profile commercial disputes. The team is headed up by Andy Sinclair, who has an ‘in-depth knowledge of the costs area‘.