DeNovo Controlling Legal Costs

LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS

Controlling Legal Costs

DeNovo | Controlling Legal Costs

• Billing for time in excess of what was actually

spent

• Duplicate time charges

• Over-staffing - proper utilisation of personnel

(e.g. unauthorised multiple attendance;

multiple drafting and revision of documents;

billing for supervision; multiple fee earners

billing for document preparation; excessive

file reviews; fee earners billing for performing

secretarial or non-fee earning work)

• Recycled work product - billing more than one

case or client for the same hours spent

• Inefficient procedures (e.g. cryptic invoice

descriptions; excessive minimum time charges;

bundling of described functions)

• Rounding of time charges

• Charging for overheads without prior

agreement (e.g. routine postage, local travel,

office supplies, telecoms, etc.)

• Mark-up on costs such as Lexis/Westlaw,

expert witnesses, external consultants, etc.

Why examineyour lawyers’ fees?

To prevent over billing a

client should be prepared to

examine its lawyers’ invoices.

Invoices for professional

services should fairly reflect

the basis on which the

charges have been agreed.

Examples of issues addressed

during an audit include,

but are not limited to, the

following:


www.denovolaw.co.uk

• Are the fees reasonable?

• Do they comply with ethical, legal, and other

billing policies?

• Is the law firm acting cost-effectively?

• Is the law firm’s staffing appropriate?

• Is the law firm’s work product satisfactory?

• Are the firm’s performance and results in

detailed costs assessments acceptable?

• We can assist in the development and

implementation of effective billing guidelines

• We are experts in costs litigation and are

qualified to conduct all costs related litigation

before the Supreme Court Costs Office.

Our consultants can perform reviews of

the subject law firm’s file, comparing the

file contents against invoices submitted for

payment. We will analyse billing against client

guidelines, customary and reasonable billing

standards, and relevant case law. The audit will

determine the reasonableness and necessity of

the charges, verify that the work product billed

is reflected in the file and verify documentation

of costs and expenses.

Ourservice

DeNovo (London) Limited

provides audit services by

trained and experienced legal

costs consultants. We can

also assist in the development

of effective billing guidelines

which will provide for

significant savings, improve

communications and

ensure transparency and

accountability. We review

lawyers’ bills, including work

product, fees, and expenses.

Bills can be reviewed shortly

after they are issued by the

firm for prompt feedback or

after the matter has closed. A

review can be made with or

without the knowledge and

co-operation of the law firm.

Tailored to the client’s budget

and needs, reviews address

such questions as:


DeNovo | Controlling Legal Costs

MICHAEL HESLIN

A double law graduate, Michael has prepared

and advanced several of the largest and most

complex costs claims ever seen in the UK,

running into tens of millions of pounds, and for

some years was retained by Kuwait Airways

Corporation in relation to all of their legal

costs issues arising out of their billion dollar

claim against Iraqi Airways Company. Michael’s

experience in massive scale inter partes costs

claims is unsurpassed. He has given expert

evidence on lawyers’ costs in the High Court

and has represented his clients on numerous

occasions in the Supreme Court.

AFQAR DEAN

Afqar has worked at several major City law

firms. He is a Fellow of the Association of Law

Costs Draftsmen and in July 2007 became

one of the first cost consultants to be granted

rights of audience. Afqar is vastly experienced

particularly so in the areas of solicitor-client

disputes and all issues relating to commercial,

media and libel legal costs. Afqar has dealt with

costs issues for many prominent MPs, sports

stars and celebrities. Both he and Michael have

advised on costs on many headline commercial

and intellectual property costs cases.

About us

Our directors have more

than 20 years’ experience in

scrutinising lawyers’ costs,

both for the purpose of

advancing claims for litigation

costs and in disputes over

costs and expenses between

lawyers and their clients.

We have been retained

by solicitors and private

clients alike either to attack

or defend lawyers’ fees

ranging from the relatively

low value and routine to

some of the largest legal

costs claims ever seen in this

jurisdiction. We at DeNovo

have scrutinised more than

£1. billion in lawyers’ fees and

disbursements, resulting in

savings of tens of millions of

pounds.


DeNovo | www.denovolaw.co.uk

FIND US…

99 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3XD

CONTACT US…

T +44 (0)20 3693 7186 (General)

T +44 (0)20 3693 7187 (Michael Heslin)

T +44 (0)20 3693 7185 (Afqar Dean)

F +44 (0)20 3693 7176

[email protected]

www.denovolaw.co.uk
