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01 September 2025
Issue: 8129 / Categories: Legal News , Costs , Profession
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Rise of the costs lawyers

Costs lawyers could become judges and would be recognised as higher fee earners in the guideline hourly rates, under proposals set out by their professional body

The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) business plan, drafted by ACL chair David Bailey-Vella, reveals work is ongoing to push for eligibility for judicial roles, and not just for costs roles. The ACL also argues its members’ expertise deserves grade A rather than grade B status in the rates, which are used to assess court costs.

The business plan, launched last week, reports that more than 10% of members have signed up to use the ‘Fellow’ title, available since April. The ACL now intends to apply for a Royal Charter, giving members the right to call themselves Chartered Costs Lawyers.

Bailey-Vella says: ‘The Costs Lawyer profession is going from strength to strength and we have reached a place where there needs to be greater recognition of this.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—David Abbott & Claire Keat

DWF—David Abbott & Claire Keat

Senior appointments in insurance services and commercial services announced

Clyde & Co—Nick Roberts

Clyde & Co—Nick Roberts

Aviation disputes practice strengthened by London partner hire

Ellisons—Marion Knocker

Ellisons—Marion Knocker

Residential property lawyer promoted to partnership

NEWS
Prosecutors will speed up preparations for charging hate crimes, under Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance issued in response to the surge in antisemitic incidents
Improvements to courts, tribunals and the wider justice system in the north are being held back by a lack of national and local collaboration, according to thinktank JUSTICE North
A family judge has criticised the prison authorities for mistakenly freeing a father who abducted his own son
The Law Society has renewed its calls for compensation for legal aid firms affected by the cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured a £10m penalty plus £4.8m in costs from manufacturer Ultra Electronics Holdings, under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for failure to prevent bribery
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