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Pattison Hardman
Legal Costs Consultants | Legal Costing Services
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      • Party/Party Costs
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      • Review of internal cost structures
      • Advice on large-scale litigation
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  • Cost Recovery for Solicitors
  • Our Team
    • Suzanne Ward
    • Charles Ackroyd
    • Paul Taylor
    • Katie Cerexhe
    • Suzanne Krieke
    • Kate Chan
    • David Swain
    • Joanne Whelan
    • Anna Cox
    • Kelly El Hitti
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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.

Bill of Costs

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

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

Costs Recovery

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

Cases & Articles

  • 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…

    By administrator
  • 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…

    By administrator
  • 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…

    By administrator
  • 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…

    By administrator
  • THE CLIENT AND THE OBLIGATION TO PAY LEGAL FEES & COSTS

    A retainer with a law firm is a contract.  Like most contracts, the parties’ rights are also impacted by the overlay of statue law which may imply contractual terms. An example is a prohibition on misleading a person as required under the Australian Consumer Law.  A costs agreement with a law practice may also have to…

    By administrator
  • A fool for a client – Chorley expunged!

    The High Court has today handed down the highly anticipated decision in Bell Lawyers Pty Ltd v Janet Pentelow & Anor [2019] HCA 29. The Chorley exception There is a general rule that a self-represented litigant is not entitled to professional costs for acting for himself or herself in legal proceedings.  The Chorley exception was…

    By Charles Ackroyd
  • The perils of issuing a statutory demand for fees

    The perils of issuing a statutory demand for fees In this first of what is likely to be an ongoing series of articles, we look at the matter of  Rusca Bros Services Pty Ltd v DLaw Pty Ltd, in the matter of Rusca Bros Services Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 562 determined by Markovic J on…

    By Charles Ackroyd
  • “From an instructing solicitor’s point of view, if such cancellation fees are sought from barristers, it would be prudent for the solicitor to require the client to enter into a separate agreement direct with the barrister or alternatively require the barrister to indemnify the solicitor against any repayment of fees…should the cancellation fee be challenged.”

    The importance of understanding Counsel’s costs agreement and the implications to solicitors and their clients cannot be over emphasized. A common term in barrister fee agreements are claims for cancellation fees which can amount to claims by the barrister for considerable amounts of money when they have done nothing. Curiously, learned solicitors who are trained…

    By Paul Taylor
  • 12 MONTH LIMITATION ON ASSESSMENT OF SOLICITOR CLIENT COSTS

    The Legal Profession Uniform Law has now been in place for over 2 years, but analysis of those provisions dealing with limitations on filing for assessment of costs raises the real possibility of a law practice being completely cut out from the recovery of legal fees on a solicitor/client basis if the law practice does…

    By Paul Taylor
  • Interest on Party Party Costs

    From Allocatur to Incipitur – It has begun We are now starting to see the effect of the (not quite so) recent changes to the Civil Procedure Act 2005 trickle down into cost assessments in relation to interest. S101(4) of the CPA now reads: (4) Unless the court orders otherwise, interest is payable on an…

    By Charles Ackroyd

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.

Our Services

Bill of Costs
Expert Evidence
Cost Consultancy
Cost Recovery
Our Latest Posts
  • COST DISCLOSURE AND INFORMED CONSENT – DOES YOUR CLIENT REALLY UNDERSTAND? A VICTORIAN PERSPECTIVE
    November 12, 2020
  • COST DISCLOSURE AND INFORMED CONSENT – DOES YOUR CLIENT REALLY UNDERSTAND?
    September 22, 2020
  • Is a solicitor who retained in their own capacity a commercial client?
    May 5, 2020
  • About Pattison Hardman
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Free Advice Hotline: 1800 810 807

T: 02 9692 9111
F: 02 9692 9633
E: info@pattisonhardman.com.au

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The recognised leader in quality legal costing since 1988