Costs Negotiator & Supervisor

Davies; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday

Private Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Pension Contribution

Cycle to Work Scheme

Gym Flex

Employee Discount Sites

Job summary

Keoghs is seeking a Costs Negotiator to pursue settlement of legal costs on Complex Injury claims. You will manage your own caseload, mentor 2–3 junior negotiators, and drive early settlement strategies within fixed fee structures.

The role involves liaising with clients and insurers, using strong oral and written communication, and attending hearings both remotely and in person to advocate for costs where needed.

Qualifications

• 12 months experience in a similar costs negotiator role handling own caseload.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD required.
• Experience with Detailed Assessment process including preparing Points of Dispute and considering replies.
• Strong client liaison and verbal/written communication skills.
• Ability to work within SLAs and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload from receipt to resolution of costs.
• Supervise 2-3 junior costs negotiators and mentor their development.
• Proactively review cases to formulate initial costs strategy and settlement parameters.
• Prepare points of dispute and consider replies; document strengths/weaknesses of costs claimed.
• Negotiate settlements over the telephone and with clients/opponents.
• Maintain client reports and ensure SLA compliance.
• Attend conferences, detailed assessment hearings, mediations, and court hearings as required.

Skills

Costs negotiation

Telephone negotiation

Client liaison

Detailed assessment

Microsoft Office

Team supervision

Education

Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Costs Negotiator & Supervisor

Application Deadline: 7 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.

In addition, this role will require the supervisory support of 2-3 junior costs negotiators. Knowledge of the new fixed costs regime is essential, with the tactics and strategies to deploy to be able to proactively negotiate settlement of costs and being able to do so with a commercial mindset to be able to work within a fixed fee structure.

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. This role is in the Complex Injury Costs team supported by Yvonne Booth as Lead Lawyer and managed by Darren Lee as Team Leader.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from the Complex Injury Claims team to resolution of costs. In addition, you will have the responsibility for the technical development of junior costs negotiators. The role will include:

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters
• 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
• Supervising and mentoring of juniors handling FRC cases, supporting their technical competency to ensure progression through the Costs Team’s Competency Framework to enable them to gain handling authorities
• 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 Bolton Office.

Skills, Knowledge and 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

Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Family Cover Private Medical Insurance (Bupa)
• 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
• Critical Illness Cover
• PHI/Income Protection (Private health insurance)
• 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