Paul Hughes

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Year of Call: 2001

Paul is a solid and experienced costs practitioner who is able to deal with any costs dispute (save for criminal costs and family costs). He has particular expertise in procedural law, such as the application of fixed costs regimes and disputes about evidence or election. Whilst he does have experience of the costs of commercial disputes, his forte is the costs of actions based on negligence (such as personal injury, clinical negligence, etc), including group litigation. He has experience of managing 'broken retainers' and disputes concerning the indemnity principle, both from the paying party's point of view, and the receiving party's point of view.

He is an experienced cross-examiner, and as such is a sound choice for disputes concerning conduct, misconduct, wasted costs and non-party (third-party) costs orders.

Profile: 

Paul now practices exclusively in the law of costs.  He is in high demand, with a national practice and experience in dealing with costs disputes in excess of £1m. 

Known for his advocacy, Paul avoids the type of hyperbole that can bedevil disputes about costs. He, along with all other members of the costs team, will seek to keep clients out of court if at all possible, and in view of that, he is adept at dealing with figures as well as the law. He is well regarded for his personable approach (both in and out of court). He lectures regularly to solicitors and costs draftsmen.

Paul is one of only three barristers to qualify as a Costs Lawyer and Commissioner for Oaths. He also acts as a tutor on the Costs Lawyer course.

Significant Cases:

Simcoe v Jacuzzi UK Group Plc [2012] EWCACiv 137 (whether interest oncosts is to run from the date of entitlement or the date of assessment) (with Mark Friston).

Amin & Anor v Mullings & Anor[2011] EWHC 278 (QB) (meaning of “concluded at trial” within CPR 45.16 and CPR 45.17) .

Hanley v Greening & Sykes and others (2 July 2009, HHJ Grenfell sitting as High Court Judge, Leeds District Registry) (effect of Court of Appeal costs orders in related litigation - (Nelson v Greening & Sykes Builders Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 1358).

Blackmore v Cummings & Others [2009] EWCA Civ 1276 (the test to be adopted in relation to applications for a payment on account of costs) (with Mark Friston).

Jones v Caradon Catnic [2006] 3 Costs LR 427, CA (concerning breach of the CCFA Regulations 2000 and materiality (with Mark Friston).

Recommendations: 

Paul has been ranked in Chambers and Partners since 2008 (firstly as "up and coming", now as being in band two).

Chambers has described Paul as “a forward thinking practitioner with gravitas beyond hisyears.”  Clients are “equally impressed with his abilities in technical matters and on his feet”, praising him for his “strong opinions and advice” and “good grasp of technical issues.”

He writes (along with other members of the costs team) the Costs Brief for the New Law Journal.

Memberships include:

• Member of the Association of Costs Lawyers
  
• Member of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple

Career & Education:
Universities:	St. Catherine's College, Oxford BA (Juris) 2:1
	Manchester Metropolitan University Bar School, BVC (Very Competent)
Year of Call:	2001 (Middle Temple)