header-logo header-logo

Rise of the costs lawyers

01 September 2025
Issue: 8129 / Categories: Legal News , Costs , Profession
printer mail-detail
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

NLJ Career Profile: Kadie Bennett, Anthony Collins

NLJ Career Profile: Kadie Bennett, Anthony Collins

Kadie Bennett, senior associate at Anthony Collins and chair of the Resolution West Midlands Group, discusses her long-standing passion for family law and calls for unity in the profession

Osborne Clarke—Lara Burch

Osborne Clarke—Lara Burch

Firm appoints new UK senior partner for 2026

Keoghs—Louise Jackson & Katie Everson

Keoghs—Louise Jackson & Katie Everson

Healthcare and sports legal team expands in the north west

NEWS
Lawyers and users of the business and property courts are invited to share their views on disclosure, in particular the operation of PD 57AD and the use of Technology Assisted Review (TAR) and artificial intelligence (AI)
Social media giants should face tortious liability for the psychological harms their platforms inflict, argues Harry Lambert of Outer Temple Chambers in this week’s NLJ
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024—once heralded as a breakthrough—has instead plunged leaseholders into confusion, warns Shabnam Ali-Khan of Russell-Cooke in this week’s NLJ
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has now confirmed that offering a disabled employee a trial period in an alternative role can itself be a 'reasonable adjustment' under the Equality Act 2010: in this week's NLJ, Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve analyses the evolving case law
Caroline Shea KC and Richard Miller of Falcon Chambers examine the growing judicial focus on 'cynical breach' in restrictive covenant cases, in this week's issue of NLJ
back-to-top-scroll