Associate Costs Lawyer

£60-£80k 

Hybrid

Job Ref: 100062

This International Law Firm are strengthening their internal costs team with an experienced Senior Costs Draftsperson / Costs Lawyer / Legal Costs Specialist.

In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for drafting and negotiating costs, advising on and analysing cost claims, preparing inter partes correspondence, reviewing retainers, funding agreements, and ATE policies, and supporting cost management through disbursement tracking and settlement processes. You will also produce internal cost estimates and assist with cost-specific applications and draft orders.

Your expertise will be essential to managing the financial aspects of our litigation efficiently and ensuring the best possible outcomes for both our clients and the firm.

Role

• Prepare Precedent H costs budgets, bills of costs, and schedules/statements of costs
• Provide advice and guidance to senior litigation team members on ad-hoc cost-related issues
• Draft communications on cost-related issues, including inter partes correspondence
• Review and understand retainers, funding agreements, and ATE insurance policies
• Negotiate counsel fees and track disbursement spend
• Support the cost settlement and post-settlement processes
• Prepare internal cost estimates and contribute to financial case budgeting
• Analyse and assess costs, and assist with cost-specific applications, such as Security for Costs, Funding Information Disclosure, including drafting proposed cost orders
• Support the Legal teams on cost matters arising within the group litigations

 Knowledge

• Strong understanding and practical application of the Civil Procedure Rules and key case law relating to legal costs

Responsibility

• Take ownership of cost-related matters on designated litigations
• Mentor junior members of the cost team
• Work collaboratively with internal teams on cost-related issues, including finance, litigation finance, compliance & risk, data, operations, and communications departments

Competency

• Undertake other reasonable duties as required by direct line manager, Partners or senior management