Timothy Phillips, Law Costs Draftsperson
I help solicitors to help their clients who have disputes – to pay no more costs than they need to or recoup as much as possible.
- Pay no more than you need to: When you have to pay the other side’s costs and their bill is large, I can prepare points of dispute, advise you how much a judge might allow and, if they go to court, represent you at the hearing – so you pay no more than you need to.
- Recoup as much as possible: When the other side has to pay your costs, I can prepare a bill for you; if they serve points of dispute, I can prepare a reply; if they offer a compromise, I can advise you how much a judge might allow; and, if they don’t offer enough, I can go to court on your behalf – so you recoup as much as possible.
Currently (Summer 2022) I turn round most work (budgets, bills, points of dispute and replies) within two weeks.
About
- Studied at the University of Wales in Bangor from 1987 to 1990
- Graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts with second class (division 1) honours in applied linguistics in 1990
- Studied at the College of Law (now the University of Law) in Chester from 1990 to 1992
- Passed the Common Professional Examination (law conversion course) in 1991
- Passed the Solicitors’ Final Examination in 1992
- Worked as a trainee solicitor for David Hughes & Bryan Solicitors (now Breese Gwyndaf Solicitors) in Barmouth (in Gwynedd) from 1992 to 1994
- Was admitted as a solicitor on 1 November 1994 and still am on the roll of solicitors (non-practising)
- Worked as a trainee law costs draftsperson for Wigg & Co. (Costs Drafting) Limited in Tunbridge Wells (in Kent) from 1995 to 1996
- Worked as a law costs draftsperson for Alex Milne Law Costing Services Limited at their offices in York from 1996 to September 2018 (when they closed)
- Work as a self-employed law costs draftsperson since October 2018
- Am a member of the Law Society of England and Wales
I have been to 80 assessment hearings – at the Senior Courts Costs Office and other courts all over England and Wales. There, I have argued and heard judges’ decisions and reasons on thousands of points of dispute. This experience helps me to predict judges’ decisions.
Pricing
After I gauge the work involved, I can suggest either a fixed fee or a formula. Here are some examples:
Budget
The sum of
£200
+
0.85% of the total budget
Bill of costs
The sum of
£250
+
5% of your solicitor’s costs (not including counsel’s fees, other disbursements or VAT)
Points of dispute
The sum of
£600
+
1.5% of the total bill
I do not charge VAT.
Glossary
- costs: A client pays costs to their solicitor for legal services – and someone who loses a civil dispute pays costs to reimburse the winner.
- law costs draftsperson: A law costs draftsperson is a lawyer who specialises in costs; also known as a costs draftsman.
- budget: A budget is a spreadsheet that breaks down the costs of work that a legal team will or might do; also known as a costs budget.
- bill: A bill is a spreadsheet or document that breaks down the costs of work that a legal team has done; also known as a bill of costs.
- points of dispute: When you receive a bill of costs, you can challenge it – using a document called points of dispute.
- reply: When you receive points of dispute to your bill of costs, you can respond – using a document called a reply.
- assessment hearing: When a bill of costs is in dispute, a judge at court decides what to allow – at an assessment hearing.
Contact
Email timothy@phillipscosts.co.uk – and hear back within a few hours
Phone 07931 944 654
Or write to Timothy Phillips, 1 Catherine Court, York YO10 3DJ
Also on Twitter (infrequently)