Robin is instructed by both paying and receiving parties in all issues relating to costs and is particularly sought after in cases which are unusual or involve novel points of law.
In addition to his inter-partes practice he has specialised in solicitor/client disputes for many years and has appeared in many of the leading cases in relation to this specialist area of the law.
He has appeared at all levels up to and including the court of appeal and has advised and made written submissions in respect of costs issues in supreme court cases.
The majority of his work in detailed assessments relates to six or seven figure bills of costs or cases involving points of principle. He is regularly instructed in test cases and on appeal (both first and second appeals).
Robin regularly speaks at industry conferences on costs.
Selected recent cases:
- Raubenheimer v Slater & Gordon UK Ltd [2021] EWHC B12 (Costs): The appropriateness of Part 18 questions involving ATE insurance within solicitor and client assessments and the status of the solicitor’s cash account.
- SGI Legal LLP v Karatysz [2021] EWHC 1608 (QB): High Court appeal with PJ Kirby QC concerning solicitor and client costs (informed consent and the amount of a solicitor’s bill).
- Masters v Charles Fussell & Co LLP [2021] EWHC B1 (Costs): Solicitor and client assessment concerning whether the client was able to have an assessment of bills totalling almost £1m and stretching back 8 years. Consideration of interim statute bills and CFAs, Chamberlain bills and special circumstances.
- Murray & Anor v Richard Slade and Company Ltd [2021] EWHC B3 (Costs): Solicitor and client dispute re: whether an oral agreement allowed for additional sums to be payable by the client and whether the solicitor had lawfully terminated the retainer.
- Belsner v Cam Legal Services Ltd [2020] EWHC 2755 (QB): With PJ Kirby QC. Leading judgment on appeal considering whether a client must give informed consent in respect of r.46.9(2).
- Oberholster v Little & Anor [2020] EWHC 2635 (QB): Appeal to High Court (Freedman J) regarding the appropriate costs order to make where one defendant has accepted a part 36 offer but another has rejected it and wished to go to trial.
- Newman v Gordon Dadds LLP [2020] EWHC B23 (Costs): Solicitor and client dispute concerning a solicitor who had failed to provide an adequate estimate of costs.
- Ainsworth v Stewarts Law [2020] EWCA Civ 178: Robin successfully represented the Respondent in the court of appeal in this solicitor and client case concerning whether the judge was right to strike out points of dispute relating to document time that were not properly particularised. Robin also acted for the Respondent in the High Court appeal ([2019] Costs LR 669).
- PME v The Scout Association [2019] EWHC 3421 (QB) : Appeal to High Court (Stewart J) concerning the scope of an appeal from an authorised costs officer where a provisional assessment had been undertaken. Robin also acted in the first instance decision, reported at [2019] EWHC B10 (Costs) which also dealt with the jurisdiction of costs officers to undertake provisional assessments.
- Badaei v Woodwards Solicitors [2019] EWHC 1854 (QB): High Court appeal (O’Farrell J) dealing with whether, in a Solicitors Act claim, Part 7 recovery proceedings should be stayed pending resolution of Part 8 proceedings for detailed assessment under s 70 of the Act.
- Herbert v H H Law Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 527 – with PJ Kirby QC. Leading judgment on post LASPO success fees, risk assessment and whether ATE premiums are a solicitor’s disbursement.
- Vertannes v United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust [2018] EWHC B18 (Costs)- Whether, where a CMO had been made and then a hearing listed for updated budgets to be considered, had the effect that that the bill of costs needed to be phased per the approved budget.
- Gill v Heer Manak Solicitors [2018] EWHC 2881 (QB): Mr. Justice Walker. Appeal from Master Simons considering whether a firm had terminated the retainer with their client on reasonable notice.
- Woodland v Swimming Teachers’ Association and Others [2018] 3 Costs LR 469: Discontinuance under r.38, Bullock and Sanderson Orders and the appropriate apportionment of costs between multiple defendants.
- Hugh Cartwright & Amin v Devoy-Williams & Anor [2018] EWHC 1692 (QB) – Davies J. Appeal from a costs judge’s decisions on hourly rates, counsel’s fees, set off and the costs of assessment.
- Annie Parvez v Mooney Everett Solicitors Ltd [2018] EWHC 62 (QB): Mr. Justice Soole. Appeal in solicitor / client proceedings concerning a client’s right to elect to accept delivery of a bill where there were alleged breaches of the solicitors’ accounts rules.
- Richard Slade & Company Solicitors v Boodia & Anor [2017] EWHC 2699 (QB): Mrs. Justice Slade. Appeal from a costs judge on the question of whether partial bills (containing only profit costs) could stand as interim statute bills. Also consideration of whether such bills could form a ‘Chamberlain’ bill.
- Mitchell v Gilling-Smith [2017] EWHC B18 (Costs). Whether an ATE in a post LASPO Clinical negligence claim was reasonable and proportionate.
- Vivienne Jago v Whitbread Group PLC (2016) Lawtel: Master Whalan SCCO. Acting for the paying party in an application to disallow costs under CPR r.44.11. 50% of the claimant’s assessed costs disallowed due to her solicitor’s improper and unreasonable conduct in the detailed assessment proceedings.
- Rahimian & Anor v Allan Janes LLP [2016] EWHC B18 (Costs): Senior Costs Judge Gordon-Saker. Solicitor and client assessment. Consideration of ‘Chamberlain’ bills and when the client must be in a position to consider whether to have the bills assessed.
- Vlamaki v Sookias & Sookias [2015] EWHC 3334 (QB): Mr. Justice Walker. Appeal following a solicitor and client assessment. Whether a retainer allowed the solicitors to render interim statute bills.
- French v Carter Lemon Camerons [2015] 1 Costs LO 107: Mrs. Justice Swift. Relief from sanctions following a failure to serve a statement of means in a High Court costs appeal.
- French v Carter Lemon Camerons [2014] EWHC 3442 (QB) Mrs. Justice Swift. Whether permission should be granted to use disclosure in a linked professional negligence claim in an appeal against detailed assessment. Also consideration of the use of Part 18 requests in an appeal.
