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07 February 2025
Issue: 8103 / Categories: Legal News , Costs , Profession , Regulatory
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NLJ this week: Hazards of using an unregulated costs draftsman

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Horses for courses, a lid for every pot and costs lawyers for costs (regulated, of course). Otherwise, it could all turn into a shambles. In this week’s NLJ, Jack Ridgway, chair of the Association of Costs Lawyers and a senior associate costs lawyer at Bolt Burdon Kemp, highlights the perils of using an unregulated costs draftsman.

As Ridgway explains, unregulated costs draftsmen are not even cheaper. He sets out some of the risks involved, and takes a look at the illustrative case of Kapoor (deceased) v Johal [2024] EWHC 2853 (SCCO)—'a clear example of a case in which using an unqualified and unregulated costs draftsman has not assisted the solicitor acting for the receiving party’.

Ridgway states some of the benefits of using a regulated costs lawyers: ‘As a costs lawyer is a specialist, their advice can be relied upon in the same way as counsel’s advice. A cost lawyer has professional indemnity insurance.’ 
Issue: 8103 / Categories: Legal News , Costs , Profession , Regulatory
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Keystone Law—Milena Szuniewicz-Wenzel & Ian Hopkinson

Keystone Law—Milena Szuniewicz-Wenzel & Ian Hopkinson

International arbitration team strengthened by double partner hire

Coodes Solicitors—Pam Johns, Rachel Pearce & Bradley Kaine

Coodes Solicitors—Pam Johns, Rachel Pearce & Bradley Kaine

Firm celebrates trio holding senior regional law society and junior lawyers division roles

Michelman Robinson—Sukhi Kaler

Michelman Robinson—Sukhi Kaler

Partner joins commercial and business litigation team in London

NEWS
The government has pledged to ‘move fast’ to protect children from harm caused by artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, and could impose limits on social media as early as the summer
All eyes will be on the Court of Appeal (or its YouTube livestream) next week as it sits to consider the controversial Mazur judgment
An NHS Foundation Trust breached a consultant’s contract by delegating an investigation into his knowledge of nurse Lucy Letby’s case
Draft guidance for schools on how to support gender-questioning pupils provides ‘more clarity’, but headteachers may still need legal advice, an education lawyer has said
Litigation funder Innsworth Capital, which funded behemoth opt-out action Merricks v Mastercard, can bring a judicial review, the High Court ruled last week
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