The SRA has opened a consultation that could lead to a shake-up of its powers to fine law firms for lower-level offences. The body oversees some 10,000 law firms and under the proposals, the income of the firms would be considered with fines up to a maximum of up to 5% of annual turnover being proposed for larger firms.
The person certifying a bill of costs must be identified, the High Court has ruled. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust v AKC appealed a decision of Master Nagalingham who had refused to strike out a bill of costs for non compliance where the signature on the certificate was illegible and the signatory was not identified.
Slater & Gordon has had its application for a stay in claims made by its former clients rejected. A group of claimants have brought claims against the firm over the extent of the charges that were applied against them and the enforceability of the retainers. The court dismissed SG's argument that the proceedings amounted to their former client's lawyers' trafficking litigation and exposing them to risk.
The Ministry of Justice has published its long awaited response to the consultation on the fixed costs recommendations of Sir Rupert Jackson ('SRJ') made over 4 years' ago.
The Ministry of Justice is to press ahead with an increase in court fees. Although the increase will not be as dramatic as the bumper increases of 2016, it will still be seen as controversial against the backdrop of Covid and the serious deterioration in service.
Denovo is now booking for its Autumn seminar programme.
This year has seen many development in costs law from the extension of the Statement of Costs Pilot Scheme, the Rules Committee considering Part 36 offers on costs of Detailed Assessment to the recent increase in the guideline Hourly Rates.
A most enjoyable evening at the inaugural Diversity Network Awards Awards hosted by Dawn Butler MP. At a...
Denovo legal services were in attendance at the The British Diversity Awards which took place on...
Denovo attended a fundraiser for Kate Osborne MP on 19 March. Bell Ribiero-Addi (Streatham) Fran...
A fabulous evening at the European Diversity Awards 2023. Congratulations to all of the winners,...
Denovo Legal Services is pleased to be sponsoring the outstanding LGBTQI Network of the Year Award at...
The Denovo Legal Service Marketing Campaign of the Year Award was presented to the winners...
We are proud to announce that we will be sponsoring the European Diversity Awards 2021. The awards...
We are proud to announce that we will be sponsoring the British Diversity Awards 2022. The awards...
A memorable evening at the Bank of London Rainbow Honours awards last week. Although the focus of...
Education/admissions
Afqar is involved in the firm's diversity initiatives and a keen advocate for social mobility and opportunities for all.
Afqar was amongst the first in our profession become a regulated Costs Lawyer. He enjoys rights of audience in relation all costs proceedings.
Afqar is also an accredited training provider.
Experience and notable cases
Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) –v- Iraqi Airways Company (IAC) – Following the longest running commercial case in the history of the English courts I prepared KAC’s massive costs claim, one the largest ever to reach the doors of the Senior Courts Costs Office. Legal costs claim of >£40M.
Pharma patent litigation – I was instructed by a leading global law firm on behalf of the successful parties in patent infringement and revocation proceedings involving some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Legal costs claim of >£5M.
Telecoms patent litigation – I was instructed by a top tier specialist firm of patent litigators to prepare various complex costs statements following trials and appeals involving some of the world’s largest technology corporations. Legal costs claim of >£10M.
High-profile costs claim following failed £100M civil recovery proceedings – instructed by a market leading international litigation team acting for a foreign citizen whose worldwide assets were subject of a civil recovery claim brought by the National Crime Agency (NCA). My team and I prepared a number of high value interrelated claims for costs on behalf of the successful party . Legal costs claim of >£5M.
Excalibur Ventures v Texas Keystone – The case generated several decisions of wider importance in the legal costs field (relating to security for costs, indemnity costs, and the availability of a non-party costs order against professional funders – a point on which the Association of Litigation Funders also intervened). I prepared the successful party's costs breakdowns and provided witness statements in support of its security for costs applications. Following the conclusion of the substantive litigation I prepared the defendant’s £20M> costs breakdown.
Challenge to remuneration and expenses of joint administrators – instructed by a market leading international litigation team: I was instructed to prepare a detailed challenge to the charges of a global financial consultancy and their advisers (including two high-profile international law firms), in connection with the administration of a UK energy supplier. The application for assessment of fees and expenses of >£5M under the Insolvency Act 1986 was the first significant challenge of its kind in 20 years.
Education
LLB (Hons) – University of London (1994)
LLM (Distinction) – University of East Anglia (2018)
PhD (law) - University of East Anglia (2024)
Professional and research interests: Costs law and practice, litigation funding, responsibility theory, vicarious liability, products liability, litigation practice, philosophical foundations of tort law. My doctoral thesis examined relationships between (pre-moral, pre-legal) outcome responsibility and strict tortious obligations of repair. Time permitting, future research output will address aspects of costs law and practice, third party litigation funding, as well as approaches to responsibility for harm caused by intelligent products (for ‘algorithmic accidents’).
