Andrew Lyons

A very substantial part of Andrew’s practice (almost 50%) relates to costs litigation. He is one of only three leading costs juniors recognised by the Legal 500 in the Midlands.

Andrew is experienced in settling points of dispute, replies to points of dispute and advises solicitors as to appropriate Part 36 offers.

Despite provisional assessment and various well known costs reforms having taken place, over the last few years the number of costs instructions which he has received has rapidly increased.

Andrew very regularly appears before Masters in the SCCO and before Regional Costs Judges. He has received instructions on several occasions in this area from solicitors and costs draftsman whom he has been on the other side in previous cases.

Andrew regularly settles opinions on costs matters as well as drafting replies and points of dispute.

Cases

• A claim in the SCCO involving over £2,000,000 in costs of which was almost £1,000,000 was in ATE premiums for the receiving party.
• The ATE premiums were recovered in full as well as almost all of the receiving party’s other costs
• On ongoing dispute acting for the paying party relating to an ATE premium in excess of £500,000
• A dispute for the paying party before a Regional Costs Judge in Manchester involving over £150,000 in costs which included a significant ATE premium
• Solicitor and client assessments in the SCCO and subsequent appeals to the High Court. Andrew has ongoing a very technical solicitor and client assessment which is about to run into a fourth day
• Succeeded in a technical argument in front of a Regional Costs Judge in Manchester against senior specialist costs Counsel as to whether the Claimant should recover all their costs of the action from the Second Defendant (this was a high value costs case)
• Conducted a three day detailed assessment before a Regional Costs Judge in Birmingham for the paying party (settled after the first day) together with a number of applications (including securing relief from sanction)
• Conducted a two day detailed assessment on behalf of the receiving partying Bedford in front of the Regional Costs Judge and against
• Counsel where the bill was assessed at over £250,000 with the receiving party beating their part 36 offer
• Conducted a two day detailed assessment in Norwich before a regional and against Counsel for the paying party where the paying party beating their part 36 offer
• An instruction from a very experienced Costs Lawyer in a case where the other side submitted the Costs Lawyer did not have standing to settle points of dispute
• A successful appeal to the SCCO against an assessment of costs by the National Taxing Team.  This appeal succeeded despite the appellant having been advised by his solicitor that he had almost no prospects of success
• Conducting many high value CCMCs. Having a detailed knowledge of costs law and personal injury law has meant he is able experienced and knowledge both in the costs and case management aspects of these hearings.