Background
Thomas has been working in costs since 1999 during which time he has gained exposure to practically every area of legal costs work. Most of his career has been focused on servicing the cost-related needs of a variety of firms (primarily City of London firms of solicitors). His role includes advising on costs issues arising throughout the litigation process, as well as the traditional justification and opposition of costs at the conclusion of cases.
Current Roles and Responsibilities
Prior to joining Kain Knight, Thomas was a Partner in another large City based costs firm. Upon joining Kain Knight, Thomas has stepped away from his previous business management roles in order to dedicate his time focussing on delivering a personal and committed service to his clients.
Since joining Kain Knight in February 2023 his work highlights include:
Bill of Costs preparation: Including preparation of a bespoke Precedent S Bill of Costs tailored to the specific circumstances of proceedings with complex issues arising as to pre-judgment interest and the division of costs, total claim for costs > £8 million.
Costs Schedules/Statements of Costs: Work covering cases in the High Court, Arbitration and Tribunals. To include drafting a costs schedule in relation to the first Competition Appeal Tribunal opt-out proceedings to proceed to a full hearing resulting in a payment on account of costs being awarded at £14 million.
Points of Dispute: Preparing detailed Points of Dispute in all forums covering complex preliminary issues in addition to itemised disputes. Work in this field has included preparation of Points of Dispute in relation to a high-profile matter widely reported in the mainstream media.
Representing clients at hearings in the High Court (SCCO) and Privy Council: 100% costs recovery achieved on a Solicitor’s Act assessment. Successfully reducing an opponent’s costs claim by more than 50% (reduction from £807k to £391k) over a multi-day assessment in the Privy Council.
Preparing and delivering training seminars, internally and to clients: This has included considering the potential impact of the ‘simplified’ costs budgeting scheme following implementation in 2025, the subject of costs management and legal project management being an area of special interest for Thomas.
Developing a bespoke costs monitoring tool: Having undertaken training to become a Legal Project Practitioner in 2018, Thomas was able to spend some time following his move to Kain Knight in preparing and developing a tool to assist clients with monitoring their legal costs spends. Initially this tool was developed by Thomas for applications in cases where Costs Management is ordered by the Court, but then further developed to assist in estimating and monitoring costs spends in almost any type of legal case.
Qualifications
Costs Lawyer (2008)
Legal Project Practitioner (2018 – certified by the Institute of Legal Project Managers)
Interests
Outside of work Thomas enjoys music (being an aspiring guitar player and regularly enjoy attending gigs), off-road cycling and football (watching, not playing!).
