Cook on Costs 2027

This well-established and practical title returns fully updated with legislative changes concerning every aspect of civil costs, providing concise and comprehensive commentary on costs developments as well as straight forward explanations of the remuneration of solicitors and barristers. Using a dual approach, the text both informs and guides you through all aspects of the costs of contentious and non-contentious legal business.

The 2027 edition is updated by Senior Costs Judge Jason Rowley and Kevin Latham, barrister at Kings Chambers and Deputy Costs Judge, now in their second year as co-editors.

What's new for this year's edition:

• The Supreme Court on costs - Process & Industrial Developments v Nigeria - consequences for the indemnity principle, funding and the currency of costs orders
• Part 36 - Commentary on the Court of Appeal decisions in Smithstone v Tranmoor and Attersley v UK Insurance regarding split offers and Part 36's relationship with fixed costs
• Costs and Case Management - increasingly important in the largest cases as well as the various attempts to budget 'lite'. The parties' room to agree variations is also examined
• Wasted Costs and AI - the hottest of topics: Ayinde and guidance following it are considered
• Alternative Dispute Resolution - a year of compulsion, extension (and refusal); there is much to talk about
• Costs between the parties - all the cases - including bad behaviour in Ward v Donnellan and Orton v Barclays Ban
• Costs against non-parties - Who? Funders, liquidators and funding directors. When and where? Yodel v Corlett reviewed
• Security and protective costs orders - Numerous cases include security in detailed assessment proceedings as well as the impact of the Hague and Aarhus Conventions
• Contingency fee agreements - Challenges to both CFAs and CBAs feature this year along with the CJC consultation on reforming Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974
• Solicitor/Client - We cover the Court of Appeal's significant judgments in Barnes and Turner on the limits of challenges to Contentious Business Agreements and cash accounts via the Solicitors Act
• Rates and assessment - The Rolls Building practice note on statements of costs, the amended summary assessment power in CPR 44.6, and the Arbitration Act 2025