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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

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Ashurst's Chief Risk Officer joins Walkers

Excello Law—John Osborne

Excello Law—John Osborne

Northern family lawyer John Osborne joins Excello

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

Trio of promotions announced at Kidderminster law firm mfg Solicitors

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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues to show that failing to disclose regulatory issues can attract harsher consequences than the original misconduct itself
Rejecting a generous settlement can prove an expensive mistake, as two recent high-profile cases demonstrate
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