Legal Cost Analysts

Law Costs Draughtsmen and Consultants

Welcome

Legal costs are no longer a relative afterthought. The subject is often considered by many as a complex one. It need not be. Litigation funding, who pays what, and to whom, along the way or at the end, is an essential and necessary skill. Costs now permeate every aspect of civil disputes.

Every case is unique requiring a radical and touchstone approach. We are alert to the need to assess fundamental issues at the outset. How a costs case evolves is as important as the underlying dispute. Clear and well defined arguments, submissions, strategies, bills and costs pleadings is our know-how.

OUR WORK

We provide innovative solutions to legal costs disputes. Although regularly instructed by Claimants, or those claiming costs, we are also consulted frequently and strategically by those wishing to curtail risk, lessen clients' costs exposure, assist with case management issues and attend detailed assessment hearings.

Our services cover every aspect of legal costs in England, Wales and Jersey including:

  • Negotiations before and subsequent to commencement of legal costs proceedings.
  • Bills of Costs.
  • Points of Dispute.
  • Points of Reply.
  • Initiate, develop and see through all types of legal costs proceedings. Secure interim payments by agreement or the Courts.
  • Between the parties detailed assessment hearings in the County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords, Privy Council and Lands Tribunal.
  • Initiate, defend, monitor, develop and see through solicitor / client disputes under The Solicitors Act 1974.
  • Costs budgeting, forecasting, applications for security for costs, hands on and off the cuff advice.
  • Costs Audits.
  • Give evidence, by witness statement or any other media, on costs applications and issue based costs.
  • Provide free tailor made workshops. Salvatore is CPD accredited by the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen.


LIBEL / DEFAMATION / PRIVACY / MEDIA

We have considerable expertise in media legal costs with significant prominence in Claimant work or those claiming costs. Our bills leave little scope for genuine challenge.

When attacked our bills have stood the test and our results, after negotiations, preliminary issue hearings or detailed assessments, have over the years made many costs Claimants including solicitors very happy.

HIGH VALUE CASES

It is not just a numbers game. Style, presentation, clarity and simplicity are essential in any case particularly in big litigation where financial resources and reputations are frequently stretched.

A sound and thorough understanding of the case, the interim orders made and costs which can logically be attributed to interim applications (won, lost or summarily assessed) is vital. We have considerable experience in high value, multi party and complex costs claims.

A FEW EXAMPLE CASES

REID MINTY v. GORDON TAYLOR - EWCA Civ 1723

Libel claim arising out of a broadcast on BBC Radio 5Live.
In this action the Defendant pleaded in his Defence of Justification that all the statements broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live were true and that the Claimant had waged a deceitful campaign against the Professional Footballers Association.

Costs were ordered to be paid on an indemnity basis in respect of one aspect of the case. This authority is routinely relied upon by parties in support of applications for indemnity costs.


CIBC MELLON TRUST & ORS v. STOLZENBERG & ORS EWCA Civ 628

These proceedings raised a number of important procedural points including the test(s) applicable on the making of an order under s.51 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 / costs payable by a funder / third party and security for the costs of a Claimant as a condition to a Defendant pursuing an appeal.


ANTARES SRL v. THE SIMKINS PARTNERSHIP / MASTER ROGERS

Essentially an application for detailed assessment under s.70(2) and (4) of The Solicitors Act 1974. The case involved a number of points including whether the Court should apply a higher duty on English solicitors when advising a foreign company - a client's rights under s.70-72 of the Solicitors Act 1974 and the conflicting application of Thomas Watts & Co v. Smith [1998] 2 Costs LR 59 and Harrison v. Tew [1990] 2 A.C.523.

PAUL RACKHAM v. SANDY, ETHERIDGE AND HARDMAN EWHC 1354 (QB)

Libel claim arising from the publication of a letter levelling certain accusations against the Claimant, which at trial were found to be defamatory. The Claimant established malice against one of the three Defendants but was refused indemnity costs.

One of the features before the Court to determine what order to make about costs was proportionality in light of the award of modest damages (£2,000.00). It was held that libel actions are not about money but vindication and apology.


GLAXO GROUP LIMITED / THE WELLCOME FOUNDATION LIMITED / BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM KG v. DOWELHURST LIMITED AND SWINGWARD LIMITED - VARIOUS CASES

A number of complicated cases involving pharmaceutical companies to control the manner and extent to which products can be repackaged or relabelled following parallel importation of drugs into this country from other Member States of the European Union.

Essentially the cases concerned trademark infringement and principles of free movement of goods.


STEEDMAN AND ORS v. BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

A claim for damages, including aggravated damages for libel in a radio broadcast, published in the Nicky Campbell programme on Radio 5Live.

Many preliminary challenges including (1) proportionality, (2) hourly rates, in light of Adam Musa King v. Telegraph Group Limited (not City work), (3) enforceability of CCFA, (4) level of success fee and (5) Section 30 AJA 1999 Funding Provision all failed.

HISTORY

LCA was founded by Salvatore Landolina in January 2000. Having spent many years in-house with a major City of London and well known Central London firm of solicitors Salvatore took the plunge, abandoned his perks, established LCA and never looked back.

He was not to know it, but his first three projects in the City of London ultimately shaped his career. Patent infringement, libel and international litigation feature prominently in LCA and Salvatore's expertise.

ENDORSEMENTS

I have spent 35 years as a defamation, libel and media lawyer at Russell Jones & Walker, Gouldens and Carter-Ruck recovering costs on assessment from reluctant payees. Salvatore Landolina has, without doubt, provided over the past 10 years the most professional contentious costs advice and practical service of any costs draftsman in my long experience. Salvatore provides specialist expertise, conciseness and eye for detail way beyond that expected of a costs draftsman. Our relationship has been very profitable.

Barton Taylor
Consultant with WHCG LLP
40 Lime Street, London EC3

We have known Salvatore for a number of years as he was our in - house costs draftsman before eventually setting up LCA in 2000. We instruct Salvatore on all our costs disputes but it still feels like he remains part of the firm such is the level of service he provides. It is very important that you have a legal costs expert who gives you a clear view on the merits and then sticks by that decision, whilst giving explicit and practical advice as negotiations proceed and we can rely on Salvatore to do that. He does the big things well but just as important is his ability to always be there on the end of the telephone for "off the cuff" queries that arise.

Simon Fitzpatrick
Partner and Head of Department with Boodle Hatfield
89 New Bond Street,
London W1S 1DA