Manchester Law Society Tenth Civil Costs Conference 2011

Just Costs are delighted to announce that they are sponsoring the Manchester Law Society Tenth Civil Costs Conference 2011 which is taking place on Thursday 7 April at the Novotel Hotel, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester M1 4LX.  Just Costs have been invited to speak at the event. 

The issues to be covered are:  Where are we now on reform? - hear the latest on Jackson and Implementation; Costs in Personal Injury cases now and a streamlined post Young World; CFFA's post the European Court decision in Naomi Campbell; Review of the latest case law and issues arising; Funding cases - the effect of reform on ATE, BTE and Third pary Funding and Costs Estimates & Budgets: Present & Future.

Claims Management Conference

CLAIMS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
The Hilton Hotel, Liverpool – 16 March 2011

Can the proposed changes to the market really give the claimant access to justice? Have your say at the Claims Management Conference in March.

This year’s Conference will be chaired by Just Costs Solicitors Managing Director, Paul Shenton who explains “The Claims Management Conference is a key date on the calendar for all claims professionals.”

Conference speakers will deliver topical and informative lectures on the most important issues relevant to your business. Top of the agenda is the debate surrounding access to justice and the newly emerging shape of the claims industry under the Coalition Government.

Paul adds: “Given the current Jackson reforms and Young proposals, there has never been a more important time to discuss the pressing issues and this is the ideal forum for debate.”

The packed one-day event will provide an opportunity for stimulating discussion of the access to justice debate, plus what promises to be a lively panel debate on referral fees.

The conference will enable ample opportunities for all to network with colleagues. There will also be an extensive supplier exhibition and much more besides at an event, which is proudly supported by the Claims Standard Council, MASS, the ABI, EWI and FOIL.

For full programme details or to book your place go to: www.claims-management.net/conference.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Further Expansion for Just Costs Solicitors

Just Costs Solicitors has opened a new office in central Manchester as part of its continuing expansion.

The central Manchester office located at Pall Mall, 61-67 King Street, is headed by the firm’s Commercial Legal Director, Nic Edmondson.  The new office will provide all legal costs related services including costs drafting, Costs negotiating and advocacy for Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence costs and Commercial matters and will mean that they are better placed to provide services to their ever increasing client base within the City.

Since establishing the company in 2006, Just Costs have now grown to 90 staff across the UK.  Other office locations: South Manchester, London, Leeds and Chesterfield.

For more information, call Nic Edmondson on 0161 618 1095 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Just Costs London Office Move

Just Costs Solicitors are now settling into their new London offices at Southampton Buildings, near to Chancery Lane Underground Station, and conveniently located under five minutes walk from the Senior Courts Costs Office.

This impressive late Victorian building which was formerly the Old Patent Office, has been superbly modernised and will provide their growing team with excellent office facilities, file storage space and state-of-the-art conference and meeting rooms.

The move is further evidence of their commitment to London and the south, and also reflects the significant growth of the team during 2010.  They now have 19 fee earners in London as well as support staff, and this is set to grow further over the course of 2011.

This year has seen considerable expansion and both Sally Dunscombe and Kevan Neil have been brought in to aid this growth.

Sally has over twenty years management experience and joins us from personal injury firm ASB Aspire, where she was Managing Director (and a client of Just Costs for 4 years). Sally will be leading their expansion in the south and she is already having a huge impact.

Kevan is Technical Manager for the London team and has over 25 years experience in the field of legal costs.  Kevan is a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen has considerable experience dealing with a full range of costs matters including Commercial and Maritime cases, Privy Council and House of Lords Assessments, complex Catastrophic Injury and Clinical Negligence claims, Defamation actions and Solicitors Act Assessments.

If you would like any further information please contact Just Costs Client Services team, represented by Mark Beaumont in the London office on telephone number 0207 758 2181 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Just Costs Solicitors, Central Court, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AL

MASS Annual Conference 2010

The MASS Annual Conference took place on Friday 26 November at the Midland Hotel, Manchester and was attended by over 250 delegates.  This was an all day event with many topics discussed including Lord Justice Jacksons' Recommendations.

The Just Costs Client Services Team were on hand to meet and greet all those who visited their exhibition stand at this event.

A drinks reception and gala dinner followed the conference which was an excellent opportunity to meet new and existing contacts.

For more information in respect of MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors Society) please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Personal Injury Awards 2010

Just Costs were proud to be sponsors of the following categories: Claimant Personal Injury Lawyer of the Award AND Claimant Personal Injury Team of the Year at the 2010 Personal Injury Awards which took place at the The Millennium Mayfair Hotel, London on Thursday 18 November 2010.

To see a list of all the winners please go to http://www.personalinjuryawards.co.uk/2010-winners.html.

MASS News October 2010

Nick McDonnell, an Associate with Just Costs Solicitors and a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen wrote an article in the October 2010 edition of the MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors Society) Newsletter.  To see the article, please click here.

Corporate Counsel Exchange 2010

Recognised as the premier networking event for General and In-House Counsel across Europe, Just Costs Managing Director, Paul Shenton, and Client Services Director, Mark Hartigan, attended the invitation-only IQPC Corporate Counsel Exchange™ in The Hague during October.
 
The event was the perfect platform for Just Costs to establish and cultivate a role as a strategic partner with some of the delegates, and with speakers from many well-known international brands including Barclays Bank plc, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd and Levi Strauss & Co, Just Costs swiftly took advantage of this unique opportunity.
A theme throughout the event was legal cost control, which continues to dominate the headlines internationally, and it soon became clear that one of the main focal points of this years event would be the general commitment to developing considered and inventive spend management methods.  Meeting with senior professionals across a wide-range of industries, from pharmaceuticals to oil refinery, and from car design and manufacture to logistics, it was an ideal chance for Paul and Mark to speak with delegates who were concerned with their growing legal bills in order to offer Just Costs new consultancy service to them.

Just Costs are able to consider potential solutions across each industry to assist with cost control, and following the IQPC Corporate Counsel Exchange™, Just Costs will continue to work with the delegates in helping them to achieve beneficial results as the international economy struggles out of recession.  Find out how Just Costs can assist you with reducing your own legal costs budget  by calling our Client Services team on 0161 435 6558 who can discuss your unique requirements with you.

For more details please see http://www.corporatecounselexchange.co.uk/Event.aspx?id=318696

Yorksnire Lawywer Awards 2010

Just Costs were proud to be the headline sponsors of The Yorkshire Lawyer Awards which took place at the Queens Hotel, Leeds on 6 October 2010.  This was the tenth annual Yorkshire Awards and was the biggest and best in the event's history.  The Awards attracted more attendees than ever before, with over 300 lawyers gathering to see the professions most talented individuals recognised.

Just Costs were also the proud sponsor of the Yorkshire Lawywer of the Year and also proud sponsor of the special award Yorkshire Lawyer of the Decade. 

To see a list of winners, please go to: http://www.yorkshirelawyerawards.co.uk/2010-winners.html
 

Just Costs Sails to Another Victory

Just Costs were instructed in the summer of 2009, to represent Associated British Ports (ABP) in a costs matter arising from their shipping litigation claim (specifically revolving around contractual terms between three parties) against Ferryways N.V and MSC Belgium N.V.

Unfortunately, while ABP won at Trial against Ferryways, the Court held that MSC Belgium 's guarantee had been discharged.

Just Costs were therefore retained to reduce MSC Belgium’s claim for costs, which totalled £450,361.95 as claimed.  Over a year after their instruction and 2 years after the conclusion of the Trial, Just Costs went to a 4 day Detailed Assessment Hearing before Master Howarth in the Senior Court Costs Office.

Less than 3 hours in to the Detailed Assessment, settlement was agreed between the parties at a huge saving for ABP of over 66%, more than £300,000.

Tom Blackburn (part of our growing Commercial Costs Department in our London Office) was the Advocate at the Detailed Assessment and had conduct of the matter throughout.  He said “It is very satisfying to achieve such a substantial saving for the client.  After over a year of substantive litigation over costs, in which we filed and won 2 Applications, the Detailed Assessment process worked and justice prevailed.”

Just Costs’ client, ASB Law were also represented at the Hearing by their Associate Mrs Lyndsey Ratcliffe.  Of the process, result and Just Costs service she said "We have been very impressed by Tom Blackburn who is tactically proficient and tenacious approach has achieved a significant saving for our client".

Just Costs Further Expansion with Senior Hires across the Firm

Sally Dunscombe : Previously Managing Director at ASB Aspire, Sally has extensive experience in the legal, insurance and financial markets.  Her career has taken her from Binder Hamlyn to Arthur Andersen, working in corporate recovery and insolvency, and subsequently moving to the Hanover Park Group as a Director where Sally was directly responsible for the management of Greystoke Legal Services, one of the first entrants to the ATE market in the mid 1990s.  She also developed a suite of insurance and funding projects designed specifically to address the particular requirements of various sectors of civil litigation including Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Insolvency and Commercial.

Sally joins our London Office as Manager & Senior Associate.

Katherine Kent : Having studied Law and also undertaken her LPC at the University of Huddersfield, Katherine joined Donns LLP in Manchester where she gained experience of handling general PI claims and arbitration matters.  She went on to undertake her Training Contract with Donns and qualified in February 1998.  Katherine went on to achieve Partnership in 2003 and at that time moved from the RTA team to head up the EL & PL Department.  In 2006, she joined Orbis Solicitors in Lancashire where she set up their EL & PL Department before moving to CS2 Lawyers in Derbyshire.  Here, Katherine not only managed the firm’s Complex Injury team but also had added responsibilities to include the management of the firm’s relationships with external costs providers where Katherine gained a great deal of understanding of costs related matters and services provided.

Katherine joins us as Senior Associate and Manager of our Chesterfield Office.

Kevan Neil : Kevan has over 25 years experience in the field of legal costs having worked as a Senior Costs Draftsman and Costs Manager at various firms including: Kingsley Napley, MacFarlanes, Theodore Goddard (now Addleshaw Goddard), Stewarts Law and Russell Jones & Walker.  Kevan has considerable experience dealing with a full range of costs matters including Commercial and Maritime cases, Privy Council and House of Lords Assessments, complex Catastrophic Injury and Clinical Negligence claims, Defamation actions and Solicitors Act Assessments.

Again, Kevan joins our London Office as Senior Associate/Costs Lawyer.  Kevan is a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen and has attained rights of audience and the right to conduct costs litigation.

Just Costs Open in Leeds City Centre

We are very proud to announce the opening of our new office based at 1 City Square, Leeds.  This now brings us to a total of 4 offices throughout the UK.

Due to the continued expansion of our business and our clients growing expectations, the opening of our Leeds office means that we are better placed to provide services to those firms based throughout Yorkshire.  As with all our other offices in Manchester, London & Chesterfield, Leeds will provide all costs related services to include drafting, negotiating and advocacy.

Since opening our first office back in 2006, we have now grown to 80 staff across the 4 offices.

Just Costs "cheeses off" yet another Defendant

J N Dairies Ltd v Johal Dairies and Another [2010] All ER (D) 104 (Jun) Chancery Division

The parties were competitors in the wholesale dairy product trade. At trial in June 2009, the Second Defendant was found to have stolen from the Claimant confidential information, namely, a substantial number of invoices showing customers’ names and prices, at the First Defendant’s instigation. Liability was entered against the First and Second Defendant, with the First Defendant to pay the Claimant’s costs of the liability trial, to be assessed if not agreed.

The First Defendant appealed the first instance decision and was unsuccessful in the Court of Appeal. Thereafter, the Claimant sought the First Defendant’s agreement that a Detailed Bill of Costs could be served under a Notice of Commencement and the Detailed Assessment Procedure commenced, in relation to the first instance liability costs. The First Defendant refused to agree the same. Just Costs Solicitors, acting as Solicitor Agents on behalf of the Claimant’s Solicitors (Burges Salmon LLP) thus filed an Application before the original Trial Judge, His Honour Judge Cooke, under CPR 3.1(2)(m) and 3.1(7) for an Order, providing for a forthwith Detailed Assessment should the costs of the first instance liability trial not be agreed.

His Honour Judge Cooke allowed the Application, provided for such an Order and made an Order for costs against the First Defendant.

Paul Shenton – Managing Partner of Just Costs appeared for the Claimant, against Tim Lord QC for the First Defendant. Paul was assisted by Tom Blackburn, a member of Just Costs Commercial Costs team in our London Office.

At Your Service

Many Law Firms handling ATE still overlook the "insurance mediation" rules. Nic Edmondson, Commercial Director of Just Costs explains in the attached article which appeared in the April 2010 issue of Litigation Funding.

Article provided with kind permission of Litigation Funding.  To download the pdf file, please click this link.
 

Bupa Great Manchester Run (16 May 2010)

Mark Hartigan, Client Services Director here at Just Costs was brave enough to attempt the BUPA Great Manchester 10K run again this year. Training was grueling but it paid off with Mark’s finishing time coming in at a respectable 00:54:14. All monies raised went to the NSPCC.
 
Joining Mark in the run were our very own Nick McDonnell (Associate) and Adam Quinn (Negotiator) whose times were 00:56:58 and 00:41:30. Well done Adam! Although we’re not quite sure you didn’t actually do the race in roller-skates !

Constructing an Estimate

First published in Costs Lawyer. Reproduced by kind permission of the ALCD.

To download the pdf file, please click this link

Just Costs have been mentioned in The Lawyer's Top Ten Cases for 2010

Paul Shenton and Just Costs have been mentioned in The Lawyer's Top Ten Cases for 2010 in respect of the landmark case Clydesdale Financial Services v Ors v Smailes & Ors, in which Just Costs act for one of the three claimants.

For detailed information please click this link.
 

Just Costs - Law Firm of the Year

The Manchester Law Society and the Manchester Evening News joined forces to launch the first ever Manchester Legal Awards this month. These have been introduced to showcase the huge wealth of legal talent in the North West region, the awards will recognise the range of practice areas and skills needed to create and sustain a successful firm.

There was an overwhelming response of entrants but the Judges were able to draw up a shortlist for each category and in this respect, we are delighted to announce that Just Costs was shortlisted as a Nominee for the Manchester Legal Awards 2010 – Law Firm of the Year 2010 (Small: 1-5 Partners).