Costs Budgeter

Keoghs is seeking an experienced Costs Budgeter to join our specialist Legacy & Military team, managed by Darren Lee. Within this role, you will draft Precedent H and analyse Claimant’s Precedent H and prepare Precedent R on a range of Legacy / Military claims, entering into successful negotiation on these budgets within the costs management process in preparation for CCMC. This is an excellent opportunity for a costs professional looking to further develop their technical expertise, working on complex and often high-value Legacy and Military claims.

Key Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from the Legacy team to resolution of costs.
• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate costs strategy and settlement parameters.
• Drafting Precedent H.
• Preparing Precedent R on opponent’s Precedent H and compliance with costs case management orders.
• Preparing points of dispute; and considering replies.
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s case.
• Using the telephone to discuss; put forward meritorious arguments; and negotiate settlement of costs.
• Updating reports to clients of progress made in resolving costs claimed.
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls received within SLAs.
• Undertaking periodic reviews of files in line with client requirements.
• Settlement of costs within agreed negotiation parameters.
• Instructing counsel to attend detailed assessment hearings and mediations, remotely and in person.
• Delivery of agreed performance targets; Keoghs quality standards; and client’s SLAs, KPIs and MI requirements.
• Delegate assigned tasks to a Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
• To ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations.

Working Hours

28 - 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch. Primary location for this role is Bolton or Birmingham Office. (1 day a week office attendance)

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 2 years’ experience as a minimum in a similar costs budgeter or negotiator role, either for claimant or defendant, handling own caseload.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD.
• Previous experience of client liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing.
• Experience of the Detailed Assessment process including preparing Precedent H, Precedent R, Bills, Schedules of Costs, Budgets, Points of Dispute and considering replies.
• Good telephone negotiation skills.
• Conducted own advocacy.
• An understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice and process.
• Ability to use own initiative and make decisions.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and to remain calm under pressure.
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to act as part of a team.
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages.

Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan.
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days).
• Family Cover Private Medical Insurance (Bupa).
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan.
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing.
• Death in Service.
• Critical Illness Cover.
• PHI/Income Protection (Private health insurance).
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer.
• Employee Resource Groups.
• Employee Volunteering Programme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme*.
• Tech Scheme*.
• Season Ticket Loan*.
• Gym Flex*.
• Access to Online Discount Sites.
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership.
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide.
• Discounts at local retail outlets.
• * after successfully completing probation.