Employments:

1974 to 1978 - Employed by Doyle Devonshire Box & Co in Central London.

1978 to 1988 - Employed by Crutes in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Whilst working for these two highly respected law firms I undertook most types of civil litigation. A fair number of the judgments given in cases that I conducted can be found in legal works..

Qualifications:

Qualified as an Associate of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1978 and later became a Member of Institute of Legal Executives.

Was the Associate examination prize winner in 1982 and qualified as an Associate of the Association of Costs Lawyers in 1983

Qualified as a Fellow of the Association of Costs Lawyers by passing its examinations on 10 March 1990.

Qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 1996.

Qualified as a Costs Lawyer in July 2007.

My Business:

I have represented clients from most parts of England including "Top 50 firms".

I have particular expertise in costs pleadings and in representation of paying parties. I conduct costs litigation for individuals, companies and local authorities.

I have considerable advocacy experience and  have appeared in over 100 different courts not only on detailed assessments but also on costs related applications and post-trial costs issues.

Bill preparation

Whilst I predominantly I am engaged in preparing bills of costs for defendants I also prepare bills of costs for claimants. I have prepared bills of the most complex type including the Lead Hepatitis Action Bill of Costs (this bill was over 3000 pages in length and filled 24  foolscap lever arch files).

Publications

Edited the costs section in ‘Litigation Practice’ for the University of Northumbria at Newcastle in the 1990's.

Legal Editor of the Journal of the Association of Costs Lawyers from 1998 to 2003.

Contributor for Sweet & Maxwell's Litigation Practice.

Occasional contributor for the Law Society Gazette and other periodicals.

Consultancies and legal tendering

Prepared tender and commercial documents for the ‘Provision of Legal Services’ for a North East health authority.

Consultant from 1996 to 2001 in the formation of a legal expenses insurance company.  

Consultant for the Lord Chancellors Department on the ‘Introduction of Standard Fees’ in the 1990's.

Consultant for the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society in 2002 on ‘Benchmark Costs’ and charging rates.

Education and Lecturing

Accredited as a lecturerand trainer by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board.

Member of the Association of Law Teachers.

I have lectured for the Association of Costs Lawyers, the Court Service, the Law Society, Resolution University of Northumbria at Newcastle and Westgate Training. I have lectured in-house to numerous firms of costs lawyers, loss adjusters and solicitors.

Education development officer of the Association of Costs Lawyers from 2006 to 2013 with particular responsibility for the delivery of its course leading to professional qualifications and continuing professional development.

 

Expert evidence

I have delivered expert evidence in both civil and criminal proceedings.