Year of call: 2007
Kevin Latham is a leading specialist in legal costs and litigation funding, with a wealth of experience in high-value domestic and international disputes. He has a strong reputation for combining a technical command of costs law with a strategic, commercially pragmatic approach. His work sees him involved in domestic and international commercial disputes, group and competition actions, defamation/reputation management, media/IP, contentious probate, shipping, construction and high value personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
Kevin has a strong court practice: he appears regularly in the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO). He often leads more junior Counsel in appellate level litigation but is comfortable being led and has been described by clients and peers in the directories as “impeccably prepared”, “relentless on detail” and “a persuasive advocate”. Clients praise his ability to quickly and effectively assimilate the often extensive and complex factual history of litigation and provide prompt advice.
Having specialised in costs litigation throughout his career at the bar, he is routinely instructed to advise upon and appear in complex inter partes cost disputes, matters of costs management and legal project management, solicitor–own client matters, security for costs and wasted/third party costs applications. He also advises upon and drafts contentious funding arrangements (Third Party & Litigation Funding Models / CFAs / DBAs etc.).
Kevin’s practice in international arbitration sees him assisting in arbitrations seated across the globe but especially those conducted under LCIA, DIAC, arbitrateAD, ICC and UNCITRAL rules, and related litigation in the courts of England and Wales, as well as the offshore courts of the DIFC and ADGM.
In 2021, Kevin was appointed a Deputy Costs Judge in the SCCO, a role which complements his practice and deepens his expertise and insight. He also acts as mediator and early neutral evaluator in costs focused disputes.
Kevin’s expertise and reputation as a leader in the field of litigation costs is reflected in his role as co-author of “Cook on Costs” with Senior Costs Judge Rowley – the leading practitioner text on the law of costs and litigation funding. He also edits costs chapters in Lexis Nexis’ Civil Court Practice (the “Green Book”), and is an Affiliate member of the Association of Costs Lawyers, currently involved in the Precedent G Working Party.
Various Claimants v Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Others & Ors [2024] EWHC 1728 (KB) and [2025] EWHC 2307 (KB)
(Costs Budgeting in the ‘Dieselgate’ Pan-NOx emissions litigation)
Vine v Barton [2024] Unreported (SCCO)
(Costs of a defamation claim involving a popular broadcaster and former professional footballer)
Holcroft v Thornycroft Solicitors Ltd [2024] EWHC 1473 (KB)
(How to compromise Solicitor/Client disputes – including the compromised appeal to the Court of Appeal)
Thakkar v Mican [2024] EWCA Civ 552
(Indemnity costs when fraud / fundamentally dishonesty is alleged)
Coram v DR Dunthorn & Son Ltd [2024] EWHC 672 (KB)
(When it is reasonable to use leading Counsel)
Singh v EUI Ltd [2023] EWHC 2134 (SCCO)
(Wasted Costs against Solicitors and Counsel in detailed assessment proceedings)
World Wide Minerals Ltd & Anor v The Republic of Kazakhstan [2023] Unreported (SCCO)
(Costs following applications made pursuant to s.66 and s.68 of the Arbitration Act 1996)
Adcock v Blemain Finance Ltd [2022] EWHC 3280 (SCCO)
(Pre-Judgment interest in lieu of Litigation Disbursement Funding)
Doyle v M&D Foundations and Building Services Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 927
(Parties’ ability to contract out of fixed costs)
EXN v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust [2022] EWHC 872 (QB)
(Relief from sanctions in respect of a Notice of Funding)
Serbian Orthodox Church v Kesar & Co [2021] EWHC 1205 (QB)
(Service of documents other than a claim form and exercise of discretion under CPR r.6.27)
C v S [2022] EWHC 800 (Fam)
(Costs arising from unreasonable behaviour in private Children Act 1989 proceedings)
Chocken v Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 3269 (QB)
(Assessment of success fees in complex clinical negligence claims)
JLE (A Child) v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 1582 (QB)
(Circumstances in which it would be ‘unjust’ to apply the usual Part 36 consequences)
Badei v Woodwards Solicitors [2019] EWHC 1854 (QB)
(Interplay between Part 7 and Part 8 Proceedings in Solicitor/Client detailed assessments)
Harrison v University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust [2017] EWCA Civ 729
(Assessment of costs at detailed assessment when a Costs Management Order has been made);
Kalma & Ors v African Minerals Ltd [2017] EWHC 1471 (QB)
(Costs Management in a large group claim)
Bird v Acorn Group Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 1096
(Applicability of Fixed Costs in cases listed for a disposal hearing)
Epsom College v Pierse Constricting Southern Ltd (In Liquidation) [2011] EWCA Civ 1449
(Costs following a withdrawn Part 36 Offer)
Chambers UK 2026
“Kevin is an exceptional advocate whose expertise is highly valued. We greatly appreciate his commercially sensible advice and the fact that he is extremely responsive when asked for assistance.”
“The best senior junior costs counsel on the circuit. He’s an excellent advocate, who is great with clients.”
“Kevin’s advocacy is brilliant: it is really refreshing and robust.”
Legal 500 2026
‘A very commercial and practical barrister.’
Chambers UK 2025
“I have worked with Kevin for years and he’s just got better and better.”
“A great all rounder who is super at dealing with clients.”
“Kevin Latham is approachable, personable and someone who knows his stuff like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Kevin has the ability to cut through the noise and make his point concisely and very persuasively.”
Legal 500 2025
‘Kevin is a very skilled advocate and his knowledge of the finer detail is impressive. He is always immaculately prepared and is a very composed advocate, he is commercially very switched on, and will always act in the best interests of his clients.’
Chambers UK 2024
“Kevin is a world-class costs lawyer.”
“Kevin is an outstanding advocate – he also is fantastic with clients.”
“You always know that you will get impeccable service and advice from Kevin.”
“Kevin Latham has achieved remarkable results time and time again. He has a very natural flair which enables him to get to the heart of a matter very quickly. A fantastic advocate.”
Chambers UK 2023
“Kevin is very well prepared, he has the ear of the judge.”
“Kevin Latham is really our first choice on costs matters. He is very knowledgeable, a very persuasive advocate and a really good team player.”
“Kevin Latham is very efficient and approachable and he gives good sensible and practical advice.”
Legal 500 2023
‘Kevin is technically very strong and also possesses excellent commercial acumen. He is always willing to provide an honest appraisal of prospects, leaving solicitors confident that they can rely on his advice when preparing the strategic advice to the client.’
Chambers UK 2022
“A leading costs expert who provides excellent practical advice and superior advocacy. He regularly appears before the courts against costs silks, at first instance and on appeal, and impresses judges and clients with his excellent delivery. He gets first-class results.”
Legal 500 2022
“Kevin is an all-rounder and top operator who understands how to talk to other stakeholders.”
Chambers UK 2021
“A personable guy who’s very down to earth. He exudes confidence, knows what he’s talking about and is always well prepared.” “An excellent advocate who provides clarity and gets to the heart of a problem quickly.” “Kevin has a lot of costs experience in personal injury cases. Very good technically, he’s a great choice for higher-value cases with complex arguments attached to them.”
Legal 500, 2020
“Kevin is never flustered by anything that is thrown at him and is able to argue his point in the clearest manner. He commands the respect of all of his opponents and the judiciary and has earned a reputation as a leading costs junior through a high number of excellent results.”
“He has excellent client care skills”
Chambers UK 2020
“Extremely knowledgeable, professional and thorough, he always ensures he makes contact before and after a hearing to discuss tactics and relay information.” “Kevin is very amenable and is able to build a natural rapport with both his opponents and the judge. He does not overcomplicate when explaining issues and can cut right to the heart of a matter.”
Chambers UK 2018
“Kevin is a very measured and thoughtful advocate with a concise and crisp delivery who provides excellent advice on all costs matters, most particularly in the field of fixed costs.”
Legal 500 2018
‘His knowledge of costs is laudable.’
Chambers UK 2017
“He really fought the client’s corner, worked hard and went the extra mile. He is a bright and competent lawyer.”
“A strong, sharp advocate with excellent technical knowledge.”
Chambers UK 2016
“He’s an exceptional talent and a barrister with a very good style. Costs can be quite boring but he makes it come alive.”
“His client care skills are just first-class. He’s an engaging person who’s good fun as well as very professional.”
Chambers & Partners UK 2015
“Very able, very calm and very measured, and never takes any bad points – he’s just a pleasure to deal with”
“Very quick to digest the issues”
Northern Bar – Costs Litigation – Band 2
