The Costs Management Pilot Scheme was in effect for 18 months in all Technology and Construction Courts and Mercantile Courts, and ended on 31 March 2013. At the invitation of Lord Justice Jackson, the Centre of Construction Law at King's College London was asked to monitor the Pilot by means of questionnaires and a follow-up telephone survey in order to evaluate how effective the Pilot was in terms of controlling costs, keeping clients informed about the overall costs position, and the additional workload imposed on judges and court staff.
Costs management is here to stay. From 1 April 2013 costs management has applied to most types of litigation, in accordance with CPR 3.12 – 3.18 and Practice Direction 3E, under the 60th update to the CPR. Costs management under the new rules will introduce a new discipline in respect of incurring litigation costs.
An overview of costs management and feedback from solicitors and judges provided under the Pilot can be found in the Costs Pilot Final Report, written by Nicholas Gould, a Visiting Senior Lecturer at King's College London and a partner in Fenwick Elliott LLP, Christina Lockwood, a lawyer and CEDR accredited mediator, and Claire King, an Associate of Fenwick Elliott LLP.
To find a copy of the Report, please go to www.fenwickelliott.com/files/nicholas_gould-_costs_management_pilot_-_final_report.pdf.
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