Costs Negotiator

Davies; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday per year

Simply Health Care Cash Plan

WeCare – 24/7 online GP

Death In Service

Pension Contribution 5%/3%

Employee Resource Groups

Employee Volunteering Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Tech Scheme

Season Ticket Loan

Gym Flex

Discount sites

Discounts at Merlin Attractions

Discounts at local outlets

Job summary

Davies Group in Bolton is seeking a Costs Negotiator to pursue settlement of legal costs on Complex Injury claims. You will manage your own caseload from receipt to resolution, formulating costs strategies and negotiating with opponents.

You will liaise with insurers, provide clear written and oral advice, and work to client SLAs, KPIs. The Legacy Team based in Birmingham supports this role, with leadership by Darren Lee.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 months' experience in a costs negotiator role.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD qualifications.
• Experience in client liaison, taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing.
• Experience with Detailed Assessment process including Points of Dispute.
• Good telephone negotiation skills.
• Understanding of cost case law and insurance litigation.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and stay calm under pressure.
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages.

Responsibilities

• Progress each file from receipt to resolution of costs.
• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy.
• Preparing points of dispute and considering replies.
• Negotiating settlement of costs by telephone.
• Updating clients on progress made in resolving costs claimed.
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls within SLAs.
• Instructing counsel and attending conferences; details hearings and mediations.
• Attending court for hearings and mediations, remotely and in person to conduct own advocacy.
• Delivering performance targets, quality standards and client SLAs.
• Mentor a Paralegal and support their development.
• Ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations.

Skills

Costs negotiation

Client liaison

Telephone negotiation

Detailed assessment

IT skills

Team player

Decision making

Prioritisation

Communication skills

Advocacy knowledge

Education

Degree

LPC

ALCD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Costs Negotiator

Application Deadline: 20 October 2026

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Bolton

Description

To pursue the settlement of legal costs as soon as practicably possible on a range of Complex Injury claims.

A Costs Negotiator should be able to proactively review cases; formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters; provide comprehensive advice to clients; commence early telephone negotiations with opponents; and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.

The Costs Negotiator should be able to establish strong working relationships within the Costs team; the wider Keoghs business; and with our clients through use of excellent oral skills and succinct written communications.

The Costs Negotiator will be expected to attain their Objectives as well as Client SLAs and KPIs. Support and mentoring with their Personal Development Plan will be provided to enable technical development and career progression.

The Head of Costs is Howard Dean; Technical Director is Elaine Pitt; and Business Unit Director is Amanda Nuttall.The role is with the Legacy Team based in Birmingham, managed by Darren Lee and supported by Paul Edwards.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from the Keoghs Motor & Casualty teams to resolution of costs. The role will include:

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameter
• Preparing points of dispute and considering replies
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s costs claimed
• Using the telephone to discuss; put forward meritorious arguments; and negotiate settlement of costs
• Updating reports to clients of progress made in resolving costs claimed
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls received within SLAs
• Undertaking periodic reviews of files in line with client requirements
• Settlement of costs within agreed negotiation parameters
• Instructing counsel and attending conferences; detailed assessment hearings; and mediations, remotely and in person.
• Attending court for application hearings; detailed assessment hearings and mediations remotely and in person to conduct own advocacy
• Delivery of agreed performance targets; Keoghs quality standards; and client’s SLAs, KPIs and MI requirements
• Delegate assigned tasks to a Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives
• To ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations

Working Hours

• 28 - 35 hours per week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch.
• Primary location for this role is Birmingham Office.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• 12 months experience as a minimum in a similar costs negotiator role, either for claimant or defendant, handling own caseload.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD
• Previous experience of client liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing
• Experience of the Detailed Assessment process including preparing Points of Dispute and considering replies.
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• An understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice and process.
• Ability to use own initiative and make decisions
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and to remain calm under pressure
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills
• Ability to act as part of a team
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages

Personal Effectiveness

• Team commitment: Values others perspective
• Resilience: Demonstrates self-control
• Passion for growth and improvement: Systematically improves performance
• Embracing Change: Responds positively to change
• Client Care:Works to add value for the client
• Decision Making:Operates within formal authority
• Negotiation, Influence and Persuasion
• Commercial Insight:Considers some commercial implications
• Monitors own performance against objectives set by Team Leader

Job Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
• Death In Service – after 1 years’ service
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
• Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Volunteering Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme*
• Tech Scheme*
• Season Ticket Loan*
• Gym Flex*
• Access to Online Discount Sites
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
• Discounts at local retail outlets

*after successfully completing probation