Just Costs Solicitors - Paul Shenton and Team.

Paul Shenton LLB (Hons) LLM (Cantab)

Paul is dual qualified as a barrister and a solicitor, completing his pupillage and practice at Hardwicke Building in London before moving to Eversheds in 1992, where he was a partner for 9 years. Whilst at Eversheds, Paul established and developed their national costs team to a turnover of approximately £2 million per annum.

Paul founded Just Costs solicitors in 2006, and the business has grown from just two members of staff and a handful of clients, to the thriving and established business of today – with over 100 clients and growing by the week!

In addition to being our Managing Director, Paul also heads up our successful advocacy team and has been involved in a number of high profile cases, the most notable of these being:

Griffiths v Solutia UK Ltd [2001] EWCA Civ 736

Leading Court of Appeal case on proportionality.

Click here to read the judgement.

Inline Logistics v UCI Logistics Ltd [2002] EWHC 519

Appeal hearing regarding recovery of a commercial insurance premium.

Click here to read the judgement.

NG Bailey & Co v AMEC Design & Management Ltd [2003] WL 22656557

Leading decision on the ambit of disclosure in costs proceedings. Multi-million pound costs dispute.

Click here to read the judgement.

Dennis Rye v Liquidators of Ashfield Nominees Ltd [2005] EWHC 1189 (Ch)

Recovery of costs in insolvency proceedings.

Click here to read the judgement.

Miller v Pugh & MIB – 19 April 2005

Recoverability of interest & costs of costs in non-litigated cases.

Click here to read the judgement.

Mark Hartigan BSc (Hons)

Mark is the Company Secretary and Client Services Manager at Just Costs. For the 4 years before joining Just Costs, Mark was the Sales Director at a technology company that focused upon selling imaging, workflow and document management solutions into the retail, banking and legal marketplace. Mark’s major clients included Barclays, HBOS, Prudential, RSA, DLA, Allen and Overy and Hammonds Direct.

In all, Mark has over 18 years experience within sales and marketing, with the majority of those being within the technology sector.

Since joining Just Costs, Mark has developed the company into an energetic and established business. Our client base has grown and we have developed closer links with other service providers to the legal industry. Mark’s commitment to client care and excellent service has proved un-matchable within the industry.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys simple pleasures – his local pub, the gym and watching his two young sons growing up.

Joanna Squires LLB (Hons) FALCD

Joanna is the Technical Manager here at Just Costs. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the drafting and negotiation departments, ensuring that all fee earning staff are up to date with current case law and providing advice and assistance with technical issues.

Joanna has over twelve years experience as a costs draftswoman, and before joining Just Costs she was the Deputy Manager at the head office of a national firm of costs draftsmen.

She obtained the industry's professional qualification of Associate of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen (ALCD) in 2000 and becoming a Fellow of the association in January 2003. In 2008 she gained her LLB from Nottingham Law School.

In her (limited) spare time, Joanna relaxes by taking her dog for long walks in the Peak District and acting as a free taxi service to her three children!

Robert Morris F.Inst.L.Ex

Robert is the Operations Manager at Just Costs. He oversees the entire office, ensuring that all departments run smoothly and that we comply with all the necessary regulations. He is generally the first point of contact for many of our clients, and has over 20 years experience within the legal field.

Robert is fully qualified as a legal executive, and before joining Just Costs, he was employed as an Associate and Manager with a leading Manchester based law firm. He has a wealth of experience in the conduct of civil litigation issues, practice management and business development.

Robert plays a key part in our technological advances, helping to implement and improve our bespoke case management system. He is also responsible for recruitment; office procedures and ensuring our three offices run smoothly as one. Robert also finds the time to work on complex legal issues.

Shirley Rothel

Shirley is the Financial Manager at Just Costs. Before joining us, she was employed as the Financial Risk Manager at a large national law firm, and has over 23 years experience within legal accounts. Her experience covers all aspects of legal accounts, client management procedures and risk management, and specialised in specific risk management issues including treasury finance; procurement within facilities and IT; salary control and audits of overseas branches.

Shirley is responsible for the day-to-day running of the accounts team at Just Costs. She ensures we comply fully with the Solicitors Accounts Rules, alongside credit and revenue control, salaries and process and procedural reviews. She also oversees the accounts and credit control teams as they provide administrative support to our clients by chasing third party payments after we have negotiated their costs.

In her spare time, Shirley enjoys running and following her two sons playing football.