Chris Butler
Chris has over 37 years’ experience in dealing with all aspects of legal costs. He works alongside commercial law firms, corporate entities and in-house legal departments and advises funders and law firms on litigation budgets, court-facing budgeting provisions.Chris also provides conventional costs consultancy services associated with detailed assessment proceedings.
Commercial Litigation Costs
Chris specialises in the preparation and opposition of legal costs predominantly in relation to high-value commercial disputes in the United Kingdom, with his experience extending to costs disputes in the Channel Islands, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. Chris is also experienced in dealing with costs disputes emanating from the Supreme Court, Privy Council as well as Arbitrations including in particular proceedings before the Competition Appeals Tribunal.
Notable Cases
Engaged to draft a series of Statements of Costs for summary assessment in connection with significant ongoing Solicitor/Client costs proceedings – costs totalling £1 million.
Claim No: CR-2025-01274
Engaged to draft a bespoke statement of costs for the purpose of securing a payment on account of costs – costs totalling circa £16.6 million.
Engaged to draft the Claimants complex Bill of Costs – totalling circa £7.9 million.
Case No: 1407/7/7/21
Engaged to draft a bespoke statement of costs for the purpose of securing a payment on account of costs – totalling circa £27 million.
Engaged throughout the litigation process to assist with costs management matters including preparing the Claimant’s Costs Budget. Thereafter, drafting the Claimant’s Statements of Costs for the purpose of securing payments on account of costs, and then engaged further to draft the Claimant’s Bills of Costs – totalling circa £5.6 million.
Costs in Specialist Tribunals
In relation to proceedings before the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT), Chris is regularly engaged by instructed solicitors and Personal Class Representatives to provide in-person costs training sessions as well as providing monthly costs monitoring report services.
To reflect his expertise in costs, Chris is currently in the process of being added as a member to the Consultative Panel in respect of ongoing proceedings before the CAT.
Chris is also regularly engaged to deal with costs disputes arising from other forms of Tribunal including the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He also has experience of dealing with costs disputes arising from Employment Appeals.
Advocacy & Mediation
Chris is a skilled advocate and regularly represents clients at court hearings, predominantly at the Senior Courts Costs Office. As an accredited CLSB (Costs Lawyers Standards Board) trainer, he regularly runs seminars and training for clients and staff.
Regulatory
Chris is a Costs Lawyer regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (Registration Number: CL2026)
Qualifications & Memberships
Qualifications
- Fellow, Association of Law Costs Draftsman (2001)
- Costs Lawyer, Association of Costs Lawyers (2008)
- Accredited CLSB Training
Memberships
- Association of Costs Lawyers
