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Being served with a Bill of Costs can expose paying parties to significant and often unnecessary costs if action is not taken promptly. The quality of the initial Points of Dispute frequently determines how much can ultimately be saved.

As part of our Paying Party Costs service, we act for insurers, local authorities, businesses and other paying parties throughout England & Wales. We provide strategic advice from the moment a Bill of Costs is served through negotiation, provisional assessment and, where necessary, detailed assessment proceedings. Strong Points of Dispute place pressure on excessive hourly rates, unreasonable time claimed, fee earner grades, proportionality and recoverability from the outset, often leading to substantial reductions before a contested hearing becomes necessary.

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Been Served with a Bill of Costs?

 

If you have recently received a Bill of Costs, early specialist advice can make a significant difference to the final outcome. We regularly assist paying parties by:

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• Reviewing Bills of Costs

• Drafting comprehensive Points of Dispute

• Advising on Replies to Points of Dispute

• Negotiating reductions

• Preparing matters for Detailed Assessment where required

 

Before formal objections are drafted, you may also find our guide on 'What to Do When You Have Been Served with a Bill of Costs' helpful.

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Our Paying Party Costs Service

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Our work forms part of a wider specialist Paying Party Costs service supporting clients throughout every stage of a costs dispute. Whether you require immediate assistance with Points of Dispute or representation throughout Detailed Assessment proceedings, we provide practical, commercially focused advice designed to minimise unnecessary costs.  Related Services:

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• Paying Party Costs service

• Draft points of dispute

• Bill of Costs Served – What Should Paying Parties Do Next?

• How to Challenge a Bill of Costs (Detailed Assessment Guide)

 

Why Early Action Matters

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A Bill of Costs may contain hundreds or even thousands of individual items. Without a structured challenge, excessive costs may be allowed by default. Common issues include:

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• Hourly rates exceeding Guideline Hourly Rates

• Routine work claimed at senior fee earner rates

• Duplication between fee earners

• Excessive attendances and correspondence

• Disproportionate time claimed

• Work falling outside the scope of the claim

• Unrecoverable costs

 

Identifying these issues early allows robust Points of Dispute to be drafted before the receiving party's position becomes entrenched.  For more information about the assessment process, see our guide: How to Challenge a Bill of Costs (Detailed Assessment Guide).

 

Our Points of Dispute Drafting Service

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We support paying parties from initial review of the Bill of Costs through negotiation, provisional assessment and Detailed Assessment proceedings. Our work includes:

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• Drafting detailed Points of Dispute

• Challenging reasonableness and proportionality

• Reviewing Replies to Points of Dispute

• Challenging hourly rates

• Challenging fee earner grades

• Identifying duplication

• Challenging Counsel's fees

• Challenging expert fees

• Identifying procedural and technical defects within the Bill

• Preparing matters for Detailed Assessment

 

Early specialist review frequently results in significant reductions without the need for a contested hearing.

If you require formal objections, visit our draft points of dispute page.

 

What Makes Effective Points of Dispute?

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Effective Points of Dispute do far more than challenge individual entries. The strongest reductions are usually achieved by combining detailed objections with wider arguments concerning proportionality, conduct, delegation, recoverability and the overall value of the underlying litigation. This strategic approach often distinguishes successful paying party challenges from those that simply dispute isolated items without addressing the wider costs issues.

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Case Study 1 – £30,000 Saving Without Detailed Assessment

 

Background

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• Damages settled at just under £50,000

• Bill of Costs served at approximately £70,000

 

Our Challenge

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• Grade A hourly rates

• Duplication

• Insufficient breakdown of work

• Proportionality

 

Outcome

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The matter settled at approximately £40,000. Saving achieved: approximately £30,000 (43%).  Early technical pressure and carefully drafted Points of Dispute secured a substantial reduction without the need for contested Detailed Assessment proceedings.

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Case Study 2 – £15,500 Bill Reduced to £150

 

Background

 

Bill of Costs served at approximately £15,500.

 

Our Challenge

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• Recoverability

• Discontinuance consequences

• Proportionality

 

Outcome

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Approximately £3,600 was initially allowed before the position was successfully challenged further. The final recovery reduced to approximately £150. This matter demonstrates how procedural history and recoverability arguments can fundamentally change the outcome of a costs dispute.

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Issues We Commonly Challenge

 

Our Points of Dispute regularly address:

• Excessive hourly rates

• Unsupported uplifts

• Fee earner grading

• Routine work claimed at partner rates

• Duplication

• Excessive attendances

• Correspondence

• Witness evidence

• Trial bundles

• Counsel's fees

• Expert fees

• Proportionality

• Unrecoverable pre-issue work

• Unrecoverable post-settlement work

• Defects within Bills of Costs and supporting documentation

 

Acting for Paying Parties Throughout England & Wales

 

We act for:

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• Insurers

• Local Authorities

• Businesses

• Private Defendants

 

Our work includes:

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• Detailed Assessment proceedings

• Provisional Assessment

• Negotiation following service of the Bill

• Guideline Hourly Rate challenges

• Fixed Costs disputes

• Technical costs advice

 

Related Services

You may also find the following resources helpful:

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Local Authority - Challenge Claimants Costs 

Challenge a Bill of Costs

Points of Dispute Deadline Approaching

Detailed Assessment Guide

Draft Points of Dispute

​Solicitors Act Assessment

Common Costs Problems

Guideline Hourly Rates 2026

Intermediate Track Costs Tables

Contact SPH Costs

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Need to Challenge a Bill of Costs?

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If you have been served with a Bill of Costs or your deadline for serving Points of Dispute is approaching, our specialist Paying Party Costs team can provide prompt, practical advice. Whether you require a complete review of the Bill, professionally drafted Points of Dispute or representation throughout Detailed Assessment proceedings, we are here to help.

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Telephone: 01772 435550

Email: aa@sphcosts.com