Costs Lawyer / Law Costs Draftsperson

We are looking for a Costs Lawyer / Law Costs Draftsperson to join our London team for a full-time, permanent role.

The Firm

HFW is a sector focused global law firm. We have over 500 lawyers working across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. We take a progressive approach to our roles in commercial business – thinking creatively and pragmatically to support our clients.

Whether we are solving complex issues within the construction, aviation or shipping industries, or providing advice across insurance, commodities and energy we are specialist lawyers here to add value to our clients. We think about the commercial solution first, and then underpin our advice with a solid foundation of legal expertise. 

The Department

​The successful Costs Lawyer will join the Head of Costs and work in a department that deals with a wide range of issues arising from legal costs from the outset of the matter through to the final costs recovery either justifying, or opposing them. Working as an integral part of the firm’s Disputes teams gives a valuable insight into costs disputes both pre and post the dispute, whether it be arbitration, litigation, mediation, or more specialised proceedings e.g. adjudication.

The Role

Working with the Head of Costs, the successful Law Costs Draftsperson will run a caseload that includes a broad and varied mix of civil and commercial costs work, working as part of the global firm.

Key Responsibilities

The role will be varied and include:

• Preparation of Schedules of Costs/ Statements of Costs/Bills of Costs before all divisions of the High Court, Court of Appeal, Arbitrations Tribunals (including International Arbitration), Supreme Court, Privy Council and County Courts. 
• Conduct of detailed assessment proceedings to include drafting Points of Dispute and Replies.
• Preparation of Summary Assessment Statements of Costs.
• Advising on security for costs applications and drafting supporting schedules of costs/drafting response submissions to schedules of costs served.
• Preparation of client estimates, Precedent H Costs budgets, and Precedent R budget discussion reports and advising fee earners on the same. Advising on costs orders/awards to be made and drafting supporting/opposing submissions.
• Providing a general advisory service to the partnership/fee earners on contentious costs.
• Advising on and negotiating with counsels' clerks as to brief fees.
• Maintain costs "library" of cases.

Key Skills & Experience Required

We are looking to hire a Costs Lawyer who demonstrates:

• 5 years' experience estimating/budgeting future costs is a key requirement, ideally gained from within a legal partnership or LLP environment.
• Experience of commercial, maritime and insurance law advantageous.
• Membership of The Association of Costs Lawyers would be preferred.
• Excellent written, communication and interpersonal skills; tactful and diplomatic in pressurised situations.
• Collaborative and team orientated.

Additional Information

On occasion, some international travel may be required.

Kindly note that this job description is not contractual. It will be reviewed periodically and may be amended or altered to meet the needs of the firm.

Apply Now

If you are a Law Costs Draftsperson / Costs Lawyer who fits the above criteria, we would like to hear from you. Apply today to find out more.

HFW aims to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. All applications to this Law Cost Draftsperson role will be considered only on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.

Due to the volume of applications, only those candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

HFW operates a Preferred Supplier List (PSL). Recruitment agencies should not submit CVs unless they are part of the PSL and have been engaged regarding this specific vacancy.

HFW collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants to manage its recruitment process. The firm is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations. For information on how the firm will process your data, please see our Privacy Notice on our website (www.hfw.com/Privacy-Notice), in the section "What we collect and how we use it".