3+9=Costs (June 2025 Edition)

Welcome to the 11th Edition of 3 + 9 = Costs. 

Although this edition is a little later than usual, much has been happening in the Costs world. We have celebrated the contribution of the former Senior Costs Judge at the end of February with a dinner at Lincoln’s Inn, and now we welcome the new Senior Costs Judge Jason Rowley. Many congratulations to him! The new edition of the White Book has again produced the very valuable publication in the Costs & Funding supplement, to which several members of our team continue to contribute.

The costs world continues to evolve. There seems to be an ever-increasing demand for our expertise, collaboration across the professions and a real appreciation for our work from the depths of a costs dispute to the mammoth group action work that seems to have most of us involved in some way or another. All to be welcomed!

This edition is a short and fast spotlight on three cases of interest to our junior members, whose costs practices are developing in leaps and bounds.

There seems to be always something about retainers. Daniel Laking writes on the Court of Appeal judgment in Singh which provides guidance on the challenge to retainers, particularly, a retrospective CFA.

Sticking with good form at the beginning of the litigation journey, Chris Moss writes on the Commercial Court judgment in 4VVV Ltd, which seems to have put an end to any trench warfare around the validity of a retainer where there has been a failure to provide a cancellation notice pursuant to the regulatory framework.

Closing the show, Daniel Kozelko analyses a decision of the High Court in Attersley, which considered the interplay between fixed costs and the late acceptance of a Part 36 offer.

That’s it in this edition. A quick read of some very useful analysis!

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