The summary assessment of costs is regular occurrence after applications and some trials.  An understanding of the rules, practice and case law is essential to all those involved in litigation. This webinar looks in details at the rules and guidance relating to summary assessment in detail, considering the practical steps that practitioners should take to maximise recovery.

• When a summary assessment should be made
• When the receiving party is represented under a conditional fee agreement
• Where the receiving or paying party is a child or protected person
• The importance of the statement of costs
• The court’s approach to costs
• The basis of assessment
• Proportionality
• Hourly rates
• General principles applied in summary assessment
• Litigants in person
• The significance of the guideline figures for hourly rates
• In-house lawyers
• The solicitor advocate
• Counsel’s brief fee
• Expenses that are not recoverable
• Fast track trial costs
• Summary assessment and the cost of appeals

The webinar also looks at those cases where the courts have provided guidance for parties undertaking a summary assessment.  What happens when time is short or the Schedule is served late