Background
Chris has worked in the legal sector for more than 35 years. He started his career at a well-known City of London Costs consultancy and began work at Kain Knight in 2003. Chris now works with Kain Knight as a consultant senior costs lawyer.
Role & Responsibilities
Chris works alongside commercial law firms, corporate entities and in-house legal departments and provides advice to funders and law firms on litigation budgets through to consultancy and representation in respect of court facing budgeting provisions and the more conventional law costs consultancy services within detailed assessment proceedings.
Chris specialises almost exclusively in the preparation and opposition of high value claims for costs predominantly in the commercial sector. He is well versed in all aspects of costs management and has an in-depth knowledge of the CPR, Chris is also fully conversant with all current costs authorities/decisions.
Chris has been involved in numerous high-profile costs disputes and was the appointed Costs Lawyer on the largest Bill of Costs to pass through the DIFC in the UAE at the time. Chris has experience in dealing with significant and complex costs claims in a number of foreign jurisdictions including the BVI, the Cayman Islands and the Channel Islands. Chris have also dealt with numerous substantial awards of costs emanating from the Privy Council, Supreme court as well Arbitration’s and other forms of Tribunal including the CAT.
Chris has assisted numerous well known litigation funders and other stake holders in several high profile costs disputes.
Much of the work Chris undertakes for City of London/West End clientele is a result of repeat business or recommendation.
Chris is a regular attendee at the Senior Courts Costs Office as well as the Rolls Building and other divisions of the High Court where he provides advocacy services for CCMC’s as well as detailed assessment hearings.
Notable Cases
- Athena Capital Fund v Secretariat of State for the Holy See
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Lendlease Construction (Europe) Limited
- Farhad Azima and (1) Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and Neil Gerard and Others
- Mahtani & Ors v Atlas Mara Limited & African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited
- The Imaging Centre Mobile Ltd and Morr and Co LLP
- Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber and Sheikh Walid Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim and Sheikh Majid Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
Education & Qualifications
Having been a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen since 2001 he became a Costs Lawyer of the Association of Costs Lawyers in May 2008. Chris first became an Associate of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen in 1998.
Memberships
Association of Costs Lawyers.
Legal Directories
Chris is a Recommended Lawyer in the UK Legal 500 2024 rankings, who state that Kain Knight is adept at handling large scale costs disputes in the commercial, insurance, Court of Protection, clinical negligence and serious injury sphere. London based Chris Butler is recommended for contentious and non-contentious costs issues.
Interests
Chris is married to Amy and has three children who he says spend all his money! His two young sons are both avid Arsenal fans despite Chris’s best endeavours to persuade them to support Leicester City. Chris is also a keen runner having ran the London Marathon and participated in various other half Marathons. He also enjoys playing golf as often as possible albeit very badly.
