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04 February 2022 / William Gibson
Issue: 7965 / Categories: Features , Profession , Costs
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Gibson on costs

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William Gibson recounts some heated moments from the world of costs

In the olden days, when London was swinging, Beatles were singing and Hippies strode the earth, detailed assessments were called taxations and took place in the Supreme Court Taxing Office (SCTO), tucked away among endless corridors in the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ). The SCTO was operated under the auspices of the Lord Chancellor’s Department, not the Civil Service as now. The Taxing Masters had individual chambers and were supported by four clerks of varying ranks, the lowest being the third-class clerk who manned (no women then) the outer office.

Those were the days before airport-type security so it was not difficult for potentially dangerous objects to be brought in.

One such weapon was an umbrella. One regular visitor to one outer office was a litigant in person who felt he had been badly treated so demanded to see the Lord Chancellor, as he thought ‘the Boss’ was the only person capable of understanding and solving his problem. He was always

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

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