Costs Lawyer/Solicitor

HF; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 50.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

25 days annual leave

Life Insurance

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Hybrid & Flexible Working Options

Zusammenfassung

HF is seeking a Costs Lawyer/Solicitor for complex and high‑value litigation. The role is based in the United Kingdom with hybrid working and occasional travel to Manchester.

You will manage substantial costs claims across multi‑track litigation, providing technically sound and commercially focused advice from start to finish. Essential experience includes costs litigation, costs management and detailed assessment.

Qualifikationen

• Substantive experience of costs litigation, costs management, detailed assessment or a closely related specialist practice.
• Ability to take ownership of complex matters and escalate when necessary.
• Strong technical analysis and drafting skills.
• Well-developed negotiation skills and clear commercial recommendations.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation with competing deadlines.
• Confident, concise communication with clients and professionals.
• A detail‑led approach with understanding of proportionality and commercial context.
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute to team development.

Aufgaben

• Manage a caseload of complex, high‑value costs matters with autonomy and supervision as appropriate.
• Analyse underlying litigation, history, evidence and costs documentation to identify issues.
• Draft bills of costs, Points of Dispute, Replies and associated schedules.
• Develop strategies for negotiation, costs management, assessment and settlement.
• Advise clients and solicitors on costs risk, proportionality and recoverability.
• Manage detailed assessment proceedings, directions and liaison with counsel.
• Draft instructions and briefs to counsel.
• Conduct negotiations and provide settlement recommendations.
• Attend costs hearings or advocate when needed.
• Build relationships with clients, lawyers, experts and counsel.
• Maintain accurate records, billing hours and fee income targets.
• Contribute to technical development, precedents and training.
• Supervise junior colleagues on discrete issues.

Kenntnisse

Costs litigation experience

Negotiation skills

Drafting skills

Organisational skills

Client communication

Jobbeschreibung

About The Role

Costs Lawyer/Solicitor: Complex and High-Value Litigation

Location: United Kingdom

Hybrid: Must be able to attend one of our offices with occasional travel to our Media City, Manchester office when required to do so.

Permanent

About HF

People. Not just lawyers. We’re not your typical law firm – we’re people with a passion for helping our clients and each other achieve the best possible outcomes. We are leading legal advisers to the insurance and commercial sectors across the UK & Ireland, known for our innovation, client focus, and long-lasting relationships. We do things differently, with a forward-thinking approach built around our clients’ needs, supported by cutting‑edge technology and a culture built around people from a wide range of backgrounds who are taking an equally wide range of routes to building their careers in law.

HF's Costs Department handles costs disputes across the full range of civil litigation, from fixed recoverable costs through to complex, high-value claims, and commercial litigation. The team acts for paying and receiving parties and combines technical costs expertise with pragmatic, commercially focused advice.

What you’ll be doing?

Role Purpose

As a Costs Lawyer/Solicitor you will manage complex and high-value costs matters arising from multi-track and other substantial litigation, providing technically sound and commercially focused advice throughout the life of the costs claim. You do not need experience across every practice area but should bring meaningful experience in at least one of serious injury, complex insurance litigation, commercial litigation or clinical negligence.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of complex and high-value costs matters, with an appropriate level of autonomy and supervision.
• Analyse the underlying litigation, procedural history, evidence and costs documentation to identify legal, evidential and commercial issues.
• Draft and consider bills of costs, including electronic bills where appropriate, Points of Dispute, Replies, statements of costs and associated schedules.
• Develop and implement strategies for negotiation, costs management, assessment and settlement.
• Advise clients and substantive lawyers on costs risk, proportionality, conduct, funding, retainers and recoverability where relevant to the matter.
• Manage detailed assessment proceedings and associated applications, including evidence, directions, hearing preparation and liaison with counsel.
• Draft clear, focused and technically accurate instructions and briefs to counsel.
• Conduct negotiations and provide reasoned settlement recommendations that address both legal merits and commercial objectives.
• Attend costs hearings or undertake advocacy where appropriate to qualification, experience and the needs of the matter.
• Build effective working relationships with clients, substantive lawyers, experts, counsel and other stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate file records, financial and management information, compliance with service standards, and achieve agreed performance targets, including billing hours and fee income objectives.
• Contribute to technical development, precedents, training and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Support and, where appropriate, supervise junior colleagues on discrete issues or matters.

What do I need?

Essential Skill And Experience

• Substantive experience of costs litigation, costs management, detailed assessment or a closely related specialist practice.
• Ability to take ownership of complex matters and identify when strategic input or escalation is required.
• Strong technical analysis and drafting skills.
• Well-developed negotiation skills and the ability to make clear, commercial recommendations.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation, including the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confident and concise communication with clients and other professional stakeholders.
• A detailed, evidence-led approach combined with an understanding of proportionality and commercial context.
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute positively to the development of the wider team.

Relevant Specialist Experience

You are not expected to cover every area below. Meaningful experience in at least one is essential:

• Complex or large-loss insurance litigation, particularly personal injury and catastrophic injury.
• Commercial litigation and associated costs management or assessment work.
• Clinical negligence costs, or experience capable of transferring into this developing area.

Desirable, but not essential

• Experience of both paying-party and receiving-party work.
• Experience of electronic bills, costs budgeting, CCMCs or detailed assessment hearings.
• Experience of advocacy, instructing counsel or managing appeals and challenges. A qualification as a Costs Lawyer, CILEX Lawyer, solicitor or barrister. Strong applications from experienced unqualified costs professionals will also be considered.
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or delivering technical training.

What’s in it for you?

Apart from the competitive salary you’d expect, our package of benefits reflects our values of partnership, innovation, and being real people. We’re committed to creating a dynamic workplace where everyone feels supported, empowered, and part of our success.

You’ll Enjoy

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 with service) + Holiday Buy Scheme
• Life Insurance & Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance & Healthcare Cash Plan
• Employee Assistance Programme & Digital GP services
• Pension Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave
• Hybrid & Flexible Working Options
• Discounted Gym Membership & Employee Discount Hub
• Flu & Eyecare Vouchers – and more!

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we're passionate about inclusive hiring approaches.

When you apply, you'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll do our best to support you.