Junior Costs Negotiator

Davies; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday per year (increasing)

Simply Health Care Cash Plan

WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health

Death In Service – after 1 year

Pension Contribution 5% Employee / 3%

Employee Resource Groups

Employee Volunteering Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Tech Scheme

Season Ticket Loan

Gym Flex

Discounts at local outlets

Job summary

Davies (Liverpool) are seeking a Junior Costs Negotiator to pursue settlement of legal costs on MOD disease claims. You will proactively review cases, set initial strategy, and negotiate with opponents while liaising with insurers.

The role emphasizes a strong costs team and client-focused service within defined SLAs. You will manage a caseload, draft dispute points, and attend conferences/hearings, delivering agreed targets and developing under mentorship.

Qualifications

• Ideally will have performed a similar junior costs negotiator role, handling own caseload.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD.
• Experience in client liaison and providing verbal/written advice.
• Knowledge of the Detailed Assessment process and CPR provisions relating to costs.
• Good telephone negotiation skills.
• Ability to plan workloads and stay calm under pressure.
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload from receipt to resolution of costs.
• Proactively review cases to formulate initial costs strategy and settlement parameters.
• Prepare points of dispute and consider replies.
• Negotiate settlement of costs by telephone and document progress.
• Update clients on case progress and SLA compliance.
• Instruct counsel and attend conferences; attend hearings, remotely and in person.
• Deliver performance targets and adhere to quality standards and KPIs.
• Mentor a Paralegal and support development under the PDP.
• Ensure compliance with SRA Standards & Regulations.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

IT literacy

Education

Degree

LPC/ALCD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Junior Costs Negotiator

Application Deadline: 10 November 2026

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Liverpool

Description

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

A Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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 Legacy team managed by Darren Lee with support from Lead Lawyer, Paul Edwards.

Key Accountabilities

You will be responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from Legacy team to resolution of costs. 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
• 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, Liverpool or Bolton Office.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Ideally will have performed a similar junior costs negotiator role, either for claimant or defendant, handling own caseload. Full training and supervision will be provided to any candidate without this experience.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD
• Previous experience of client/customer liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing
• Knowledge of the Detailed Assessment process and the relevant CPR provisions relating to costs.
• 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)
• 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