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Pattison Hardman are committed to providing high quality, expert legal cost consulting services.

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Who owns your file notes?

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Bill of Costs

Preparation of Bill of Costs (Solicitor/Client and Party/Party) and objections.

Cost Recovery

Recovery of costs determinations providing an end-to-end service.

Expert Evidence

Preparation of Affidavits in Support of Applications for Security of Costs, Gross Lump Sum Costs Orders and Independent Assessments.

Cost Consultancy

Review of internal cost structures and advice on large scale litigation and Class Actions.

Pattison Hardman was established in 1988 and is the recognised industry leader in legal cost consulting.

Pattison Hardman’s main focus is on quality and timeliness. Our legal costs lawyers and consultants are meticulous in the review of each matter using a thorough quality control process.

Engaging an expert for a specialised task leads to better quality, with no need for rework. Preparation of Affidavits and expert evidence in support of applications for Security of Costs, Gross Lump Sum Costs Orders and Independent Assessors.

Cases & Articles
Legal Bills of Costs - Legal Costs Experts
Ethics and Practice management

Who owns your file notes?

The matter of Alexiou v Alexandra White and ors t/as HWL Ebsworth Lawyers [2021] NSWSC 485 handed down on 7 May 2021 examines the oft fraught question as to ownership of file notes made by a solicitor in the course of representation and whether a solicitor is entitled to charge a former client for the… Read More »Who owns your file notes?
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Costs of the Proceedings Sydney - Pattison Hardman
Ordered Costs

Costs of the Proceedings – An overriding order?

The central issue in Behnia v Sarraf  [2019] NSWDC 138, was where a final order is made does it override an earlier costs orders.  In Behnia the final order in the Supreme Court proceedings was by consent and with an order that each party pay their own costs of the proceedings.  At the time there was an existing order which the consent orders did not… Read More »Costs of the Proceedings – An overriding order?
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The Legal Costing Company Sydney - Pattison Hardman
Ethics and Practice management, Solicitor client disputes

Cost Disclosure and Informed Consent – Does Your Client Really Understand? A Victorian Perspective

Meaningful Disclosure -Section 174(3) – A Victorian Perspective In my previous article I examined the Judgment of Walton J in Malvina Park Pty Ltd v Johnson [2019] NSWSC 1490 wherein the plaintiff unsuccessfully sought to rely on Frigger v Madgwicks, [2018] VSC 281 The below examines Frigger and highlights the difference of interpretation being applied… Read More »Cost Disclosure and Informed Consent – Does Your Client Really Understand? A Victorian Perspective
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Cost Disclosure and Informed Consent – Does Your Client Really Understand?
Ethics and Practice management, Solicitor client disputes

Cost Disclosure and Informed Consent – Does Your Client Really Understand?

MEANINGFUL DISCLOSURE -SECTION 174(3) OF LPUL Division 3 of Part 4.3 of the LPUL is styled “costs disclosure”.  Section 174(3) sits within and creates an obligation that did not exist under its predecessor, namely that: (3) Client’s consent and understanding If a disclosure is made under subsection (1), the law practice must take all reasonable… Read More »Cost Disclosure and Informed Consent – Does Your Client Really Understand?
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costs recovery proceedings
Ethics and Practice management, Solicitor client disputes

Is a solicitor who retained in their own capacity a commercial client?

Rose Bilson (a Pseudonym) -v- Domini Esposito Solicitors S ECI 2019 03598, is a decision from the Costs Court in Victoria and is a decision of a Judicial Registrar. It does raise important thoughts about lawyers retaining another lawyer/Legal Practice, not in the capacity of doing specialised work, such as a barrister or a tax… Read More »Is a solicitor who retained in their own capacity a commercial client?
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Interest on Party Party Costs - Legal Costs Consulting Australia
Ordered Costs

Interest on Party Party Costs

From Allocatur to Incipitur We are now seeing the effect of the (not quite so) recent changes to the Civil Procedure Act 2005 being applied in cost assessments in relation to interest. S101(4) of the CPA now reads: (4) Unless the court orders otherwise, interest is payable on an amount payable under an order for… Read More »Interest on Party Party Costs
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Our Expertise

Pattison Hardman provide high quality, expert legal cost consulting services. With a commitment to supporting our clients, the specialist team at Pattison Hardman provide expert advice within agreed timeframes enabling clients to focus on their core business.

When faced with a client being required to pay costs, it is a relief to know that there is a respected specialist available to review costs issues and to provide expert advice. At Pattison Hardman we stand by our expertise and service commitment with our free advice hotline.

For all your costs consulting requirements the team at Pattison Hardman are able to provide the necessary expertise and support to streamline and increase the accuracy of your time recording. Our experts provide advice on effective fee setting enabling greater return to you and your clients.

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