Challenge a Bill of Costs

 

​Challenge a Bill of Costs with properly drafted Points of Dispute. When a Bill of Costs is served, the first draft of the Points of Dispute often determines how much can be saved. Weak objections lead to avoidable overpayment. Strong Points of Dispute put pressure on hourly rates, time claimed, fee earner grade, proportionality and recoverability from the outset.  We act for insurers, local authorities and other paying parties across England & Wales in challenging Bills of Costs. Our work includes drafting Points of Dispute, advising on Replies, negotiating reductions and preparing matters for detailed assessment where necessary.

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Need Points of Dispute drafted urgently?

If you have been served with a Bill of Costs, early review can materially reduce exposure. We provide fast, focused drafting for paying parties and defendants.

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→  Speak to a costs specialist today
→  Challenge a Bill of Costs
→  Contact us

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Why early action matters

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A bill of costs can contain hundreds or thousands of entries. Without a structured challenge, excessive costs may be allowed by default.

Key areas of exposure include:

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• hourly rates exceeding guideline levels

• routine work carried out at senior fee earner grades

• duplication between fee earners

• disproportionate time claimed

• work falling outside the scope of the claim

 

Early review allows the strongest reduction points to be identified and advanced effectively.

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For a practical overview of how these arguments are deployed, see our guide to How Paying Parties Challenge a Bill of Costs at Detailed Assessment

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Our Points of Dispute drafting service

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We support paying parties through every stage of a costs dispute, from initial review of the Bill of Costs to negotiation, provisional assessment and detailed assessment hearings.

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• drafting Points of Dispute to challenge recoverability, reasonableness and proportionality

• reviewing Replies and advising on next steps

• challenging hourly rates, delegation, duplication and counsel’s fees

• identifying procedural and technical defects in the bill

• preparing strategy for provisional or detailed assessment

 

Early review identifies the strongest reduction points before the receiving party’s position hardens.

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Where a Bill of Costs is overstated, strong Points of Dispute can lead to substantial reductions without the time and expense of a contested assessment hearing.

If you need formal objections drafted, visit our Points of Dispute drafting service page. ​​

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What makes effective Points of Dispute

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Effective Points of Dispute do more than challenge isolated entries. The strongest reductions usually come from linking individual objections to the wider picture: proportionality, conduct, delegation, scope of work and the value of the underlying claim.  This is often where weak costs challenges fail. A page of scattered objections is not the same as a coherent paying party strategy.

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​Case Studies

Case Study 1 - £30,000 saving without detailed assessment

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• Damages settled at just under £50,000

• Schedule served at about £70,000

• We challenged Grade A time, duplication, lack of breakdown and proportionality

• The matter settled at about £40,000

• Saving achieved: about £30,000 (43%)

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Early technical pressure and well-pitched objections secured a substantial reduction without full detailed assessment proceedings.

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SPH Case Study 2 : £15,500 claim reduced to £150 net

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• Bill served at about £15,500​

• We challenged recoverability, discontinuance consequences and proportionality

• About £3,600 allowed initially

• Position later corrected following further application

• Net recovery reduced to around £150

 

This matter shows how procedural history and recoverability arguments can drastically affect the outcome.

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What we commonly challenge in Points of Dispute

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We draft objections on issues including:

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• excessive hourly rates and unsupported uplifts

• fee earner grade disputes

• routine work claimed at partner or senior solicitor rates

• duplication of attendance notes, conferences and correspondence

• excessive time on documents, witness evidence and bundles

• counsel’s fees and expert fees

• proportionality

• unrecoverable pre-issue or post-settlement work

• defects in the bill, schedules or supporting material

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Acting for insurers, local authorities and defendants across England & Wales

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We act for insurers, local authorities and private defendants across England & Wales in:

• detailed assessment proceedings

• negotiations following service of the bill

• fixed costs scope disputes

• guideline hourly rate challenges

 

Early specialist involvement frequently results in substantial reductions before a matter proceeds to a contested hearing.

For related issues, see:

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• Guideline Hourly Rates 2026 

• Intermediate Track Costs Tables 

 

Speak to a costs specialist

If you are facing a bill of costs, early advice can materially affect the outcome.

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📞 Speak to a specialist: 01772 435550
📩 Email us

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