On 1 April 2013, over 100 amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules took effect. They stemmed from the magisterial review undertaken by Sir Rupert Jackson. The final piece of his reform programme arrives at long last on 1 October this year, with the drastic extension of fixed costs for most—but not all claims—worth up to £100,000.
Budgeting matters
How have the key 2013 reforms fared? I interviewed Sir Rupert on behalf of this magazine back then (‘Jackson on Jackson’, 162 NLJ 7504). My first question was: which single reform did he think was the most significant? Without missing a beat he said costs management. Budgeting from the outset, the prospective assessment of reasonable, proportionate expenditure was essential. As with any reform, there were teething problems, but it did settle down. Andrew McAulay at Clarion Solicitors deals with costs on behalf of over 200 law firms, and acts for some barristers as well.
