Between the Parties Costs

Nationwide Costs Lawyers & Draftsmen - Your Strategic Partner in Legal Costs

With over 30 years’ experience, we provide specialist support for detailed assessment, costs budgeting, and all inter-partes (between the parties) costs work. Whether representing Claimant or Defendant, at all court levels, we deliver reliable, efficient, and high-quality services you can trust.

Why Choose Us

Decades of expertise: Since 1995 we’ve assisted law firms, local authorities and legal teams in achieving favourable cost outcomes.
Fast turnaround, efficient service: Our streamlined processes and seasoned professionals keep matters moving, reducing delays and cost leakage.
Nationwide coverage: Whether it’s County Court, High Court or Appeal work — we work in England & Wales and at all court levels.
Secure, client-centric handling: Your files and data are handled with full confidentiality and integrity, from upload to final certificate.
Regulated, qualified team: Our Senior Costs Lawyers are regulated by the Costs Lawyers Standards Board - so you can rely on informed advice and expert execution.

Our Services Include

Preparation of Bills of Costs (Detailed Assessment) including Points of Dispute and Replies.
Costs Budgeting and Review for multi-track cases.
Objections and Replies to Bills of Costs.
Negotiation of settlements on costs in appropriate cases.
Advocacy at Detailed Assessment Hearings.
Consultancy and strategy: how best to approach your costs recovery or defence.

How We Work

Upload your file - Send us the papers and case information via our secure portal or we can collect them.
Initial review & strategy - Our senior team review your matter, assess your position, identify exposures and opportunities.
Execution - We draft the bill, budget, objections or reply, manage correspondence, liaise with opponent and negotiate where appropriate.
Advocacy - If a hearing is required, we support (or represent) you at Detailed Assessment and seek a swift resolution.
Reporting & follow-up — You receive clear updates and finalised costs certificate with outcomes explained. We ensure nothing is overlooked.

Who We Work With

Law firms of all sizes, in-house legal teams, local authorities, and other litigation professionals who require expert-level costs support. Whether claimant or defendant side, heavy multi-track or more straightforward detailed assessment, we adjust to your needs.

Ready to get started?

Click the Upload Your File button now and let us take on your costs workload. Prefer to talk first? Call Andrew Armson on 01772 435550 or email him at: aa@sphcosts.com and we’ll arrange a no-obligation discussion about your matter.

FAQ

Costs Budgeting & Inter-Partes Costs

1. What information do you need to prepare a Costs Budget (Precedent H)?

We typically require:

The current case plan / procedural history
Statements of case, disclosure lists, expert reports, medical evidence
Court orders and directions
Fee notes or WIP summaries
Anticipated future work and disbursements
If anything is missing, we will advise promptly.

2. Can you review or amend an existing Precedent H or Precedent R?

Yes. We frequently review costs budgets prior to CCMCs, prepare Precedent Rs for negotiation, and amend budgets following variation or new evidence. We also provide strategic advice to maximise recoverability.

3. Do you attend CCMCs or costs hearings?

Yes. Our Costs Lawyers can attend CCMCs, Detailed Assessments, and interim hearings. We also provide advocacy for arguments on proportionality, hourly rates, and budget revisions.

4. How do you approach Points of Dispute or Replies?

We apply a detailed, line-by-line analysis of the bill, referencing case law, proportionality principles, and relevant CPR provisions. Replies are drafted strategically to support settlement or prepare for assessment.

Housing Disrepair & Civil Costs

5. Do you draft Bills and Budgets for Housing Disrepair claims?

Yes. We regularly prepare HDR Bills, Precedent H budgets, and Part 8 costs applications. We understand the unique claim structure, typical expert evidence, and common defendant arguments in this area.

6. Can you negotiate HDR costs with housing associations or local authorities?

Yes. We act for both claimant and defendant sides and can conduct negotiations, providing transparency and professional independence.

Billing, Turnaround & Workflow

7. What is your typical turnaround time for complex cases?

Standard Bills / Budgets: 5–10 working days
COP Bills: 10–15 working days
HCCPs: 7–14 working days
Urgent instructions can be accommodated where required.

8. Can you work directly with our case management system?

Yes. We are familiar with systems such as:

Leap
Proclaim
Osprey
OMS
We can extract file histories, WIP, and narratives as needed.

9. Do you offer a free collection service for large files or paper bundles?

Yes. We offer free nationwide collection via secure courier for large or urgent bundles.

10. How do you ensure costs are maximised?

We focus on:

Accuracy and compliance with CPR and LAA requirements.
Clear, persuasive narratives.
Proper disbursement justification.
Use of correct hourly rates and grade allocations.
Proactive negotiation strategies.
Early identification of potential challenges.

Nationwide Costs Lawyers & Draftsmen