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If you have been served with a Bill of Costs, have a Points of Dispute deadline approaching or require strategic advice during detailed assessment proceedings, SPH Costs provides specialist paying party costs services throughout England & Wales. We act for insurers, solicitors, local authorities, businesses and other paying parties seeking practical, commercially focused advice on legal costs disputes.

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Whether you require a complete review of a substantial Bill of Costs, drafting of detailed Points of Dispute or representation throughout detailed assessment proceedings, our objective is straightforward: to minimise your costs liability whilst ensuring that only reasonable and proportionate costs are recovered.

 

Our Paying Party Costs Services

 

SPH Costs regularly assists paying parties with:

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• Reviewing Bills of Costs

• Drafting Points of Dispute

• Replies to Replies

• Costs negotiations

• Detailed Assessment proceedings

• Solicitors Act assessments

• Fixed Recoverable Costs disputes

• Proportionality arguments

• Hourly rate challenges

• Counsel's fees

• Expert fees

• Costs budgeting issues

• Strategic costs advice

 

We provide practical advice at every stage of the costs recovery process.

 

Bills of Costs

 

Receiving a substantial Bill of Costs can create immediate commercial pressure, particularly where strict procedural deadlines apply. Early review is often critical. We consider:

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• recoverability;

• proportionality;

• hourly rates;

• duplication;

• unnecessary work;

• counsel's fees;

• expert evidence;

• disbursements;

• compliance with the Civil Procedure Rules.

 

A properly considered review at an early stage frequently improves the prospects of successful negotiation or detailed assessment.

 

Points of Dispute

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Drafting effective Points of Dispute requires considerably more than identifying excessive figures.  Each point should be properly reasoned, proportionate and strategically drafted. We assist paying parties by preparing:

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• comprehensive Points of Dispute;

• tactical objections;

• proportionality challenges;

• detailed work category analysis;

• electronic bill objections;

• advice on settlement strategy.

 

Recent Court of Appeal authority also reinforces the importance of properly particularised Points of Dispute and the risks associated with late or inadequate objections.

 

Urgent Deadlines

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Many enquiries arise because the deadline for serving Points of Dispute is approaching. If you have recently been served with:

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• a Bill of Costs;

• Notice of Commencement;

• electronic bill;

• supporting schedules;

 

early advice is strongly recommended. Delaying instructions often reduces the available options.

 

Negotiation & Detailed Assessment

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Many costs disputes resolve through negotiation.  Where agreement cannot be achieved, SPH Costs continues to assist throughout the detailed assessment process. We regularly advise on: 

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• settlement offers;

• Calderbank offers;

• Part 36 costs issues;

• detailed assessment hearings;

• provisional assessment;

• advocacy strategy;

• tactical costs decisions.

Our objective is to achieve commercially sensible outcomes whilst protecting our clients' position throughout the litigation process.

 

Who We Act For

 

Our paying party clients include:

• insurers;

• solicitors;

• local authorities;

• businesses;

• public bodies;

• professional organisations;

• commercial clients.

 

We also work with other legal professionals requiring specialist costs support on complex or high-value matters.

 

Why Choose SPH Costs?

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Clients instruct SPH Costs because we provide:

• specialist legal costs expertise;

• extensive detailed assessment experience;

• paying party and receiving party knowledge;

• commercially focused advice;

• practical negotiation support;

• nationwide remote service;

• secure electronic file handling;

• prompt turnaround where deadlines are critical.

 

What To Send Us

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To enable us to advise quickly, please send:

• Bill of Costs;

• Notice of Commencement;

• date of service;

• costs order or settlement agreement;

• any Part 36 offers;

• relevant correspondence;

• electronic bill (if available);

• details of any forthcoming deadline.

 

Early instructions often provide greater tactical flexibility.

 

Related Services

You may also find the following resources helpful:

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Challenge a Bill of Costs

https://www.sphcosts.com/challenge-bill-of-costs

Points of Dispute Deadline Approaching

https://www.sphcosts.com/post/points-of-dispute-deadline-approaching-what-should-you-do

Detailed Assessment Guide

https://www.sphcosts.com/post/detailed-assessment-of-costs-cpr-part-47

Draft Points of Dispute

https://www.sphcosts.com/post/draft-points-of-dispute

Solicitors Act Assessment

https://www.sphcosts.com/post/solicitors-act-assessment

Common Costs Problems

https://www.sphcosts.com/common-costs-problems

Contact SPH Costs

https://www.sphcosts.com/contact

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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When should Points of Dispute be drafted?

As soon as possible after receiving the Bill of Costs. Early preparation allows sufficient time to analyse the bill properly and develop an effective costs strategy.

Can SPH Costs review a Bill of Costs urgently?

Yes. Where deadlines are approaching, we regularly assist paying parties on an urgent basis.

Do you only act for insurers?

No. We act for insurers, solicitors, local authorities, businesses and other organisations requiring specialist paying party costs advice.

Can you negotiate before detailed assessment?

Yes. Many disputes settle before a detailed assessment hearing, and we regularly advise on negotiation strategy and settlement opportunities.

 

Contact SPH Costs

If you require specialist paying party costs advice, have been served with a Bill of Costs or require urgent assistance with Points of Dispute, please contact SPH Costs.  Email Costs Lawyer, Andrew Armson to discuss your requirements.