What do Costs Professionals actually do – and why they’re essential in litigation

Despite costs being a constant issue throughout the history of litigation (with the first recorded costs agreement dating back centuries), the role of costs professionals can still be overlooked. Yet, they are central to the smooth running of cases and to ensuring access to justice.

What do Costs Professionals do?

Costs Lawyers (and costs professionals more widely) are experts in the costs incurred during the course of litigation, whether acting for the paying or receiving party. Our role is broad, practical, and fundamental to both the legal process and fairness in outcomes:

• Drafting  bills, budgets, and schedules – ensuring every hour of work is properly recorded and recovered. Our work spans right across the legal spectrum: from Civil Litigation and PI to Court of Protection matters, Probate and Family.
• Advising on costs law and procedure – spotting risks before they become problems.
• Negotiating settlements – many matters require settlement negotiation and our team ensures the best possible financial outcome for our Clients and their firms.
• Advocacy – representing Clients at hearings and fighting for what’s fair.
• Training and development – training from costs professionals can help recover increased costs and they can also advise on best practice when you’re recording your time.

‍

How We Could Help You

Working with a costs professional gives you a competitive advantage and will unlock increased profitability by reducing write-offs and ensuring greater costs recovery.

• Profitability – ensuring your time is accurately captured and claimed.
• Strategy – gain insights that shape how you run a case (including how you record time), not just how you recover costs.
• Efficiency – let Solicitors focus on the law, while we focus on maximising costs recovery.
• Future-proofing – benefit from training and industry foresight that keep your firm ahead of the curve.

‍

Why it Matters

Costs professionals should never be seen as a bolt-on. They are a business-critical partner. Whatever your level within a firm, working with a costs professional means higher recovery, fewer write-offs, and stronger case outcomes.

‍