Costs Lawyer

Costs, London | Permanent | Global Law Firm

An opportunity has arisen to join the Costs team of a leading international law firm, supporting complex, high-value commercial disputes and contentious matters across a broad range of sectors and jurisdictions.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced costs professional to work closely with disputes lawyers on matters ranging from commercial litigation and arbitration to international proceedings and specialist dispute resolution. The role offers exposure to the full lifecycle of costs management, from initial budgeting and strategic advice through to detailed assessment, negotiation and recovery.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Costs, you will manage a varied and demanding caseload, providing specialist costs expertise to partners and fee earners across the firm's disputes practices. You will play an important role in shaping costs strategy, protecting client interests and ensuring that costs are accurately assessed, effectively managed and successfully recovered.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare Schedules of Costs, Statements of Costs and Bills of Costs for proceedings across the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, County Courts and other domestic and international tribunals.
• Manage detailed assessment proceedings, including drafting Points of Dispute and Replies.
• Prepare costs documentation for summary assessments and advise on the implications of costs orders and awards.
• Advise on security for costs applications, including preparing supporting schedules and responding to opposing submissions.
• Develop and review client cost estimates, costs budgets and associated documentation, including Precedents H, R, T and Z.
• Provide practical, commercially focused advice to partners and fee earners on contentious costs throughout the dispute lifecycle.
• Negotiate counsel's fees and liaise with counsel's clerks on brief fees and related costs matters.
• Support the development of internal costs knowledge, maintaining relevant case law resources and providing updates to disputes teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve costs management, budgeting accuracy and recovery outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least five years' experience in costs estimation, budgeting and forecasting, preferably within a law firm or partnership environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of contentious costs, costs budgeting and detailed assessment procedures.
• Experience supporting commercial disputes; exposure to maritime, shipping, insurance or international arbitration matters would be advantageous.
• Excellent drafting, analytical and numerical skills, with strong Excel capability.
• The confidence to advise senior lawyers and manage competing priorities in a demanding environment.
• A collaborative, commercially minded approach, supported by strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Membership of the Association of Costs Lawyers would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

You will join an established specialist function within an international legal practice, working alongside disputes teams on sophisticated matters across multiple sectors and jurisdictions. The role offers breadth, responsibility and the opportunity to contribute directly to the effective management of legal costs and the commercial outcomes of complex disputes.

Location: London

Appointment: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Costs