COLIN CAMPBELL - OUR CONFERENCE CHAIR
OUR CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
The Rt Hon. Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC
Keynote Speaker
Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC enjoys a distinguished career in law and public life. He is a practising barrister at Foundry Chambers, and a consultant at DAC Beachcroft. He is the Third Church Estates Commissioner and is a Visting Professor in Practice at LSE Law School, and makes regular contributions to policy debates on AI and justice, regulatory law, autism and criminal justice. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He was recently appointed by the Home Secretary as Independent Reviewer of the Murder of Sir David Amess MP.
Sir Robert entered the Commons as Conservative MP for South Swindon in 2010, and during his fourteen years in Parliament, Robert served in the Conservative Governments of four Prime Ministers, becoming Solicitor General in 2014, Minister of State for Justice in 2019 and then entering the Cabinet as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from 2019 to 2021. He returned to Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales in 2022 and Chaired the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee from 2023-24.
Robert was Secretary of the 1922 Committee from 2012-14 and was Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism. He most recently chaired an independent review into autism and employment, which culminated in a report published in 2024. Robert campaigns on disability issues, domestic abuse and criminal law reform.
Prior to his election as an MP, Robert was a criminal barrister for nearly twenty years and a member of the Attorney General’s Prosecuting List. He was appointed a Crown Court Recorder in 2009 and took Silk in 2014. He was Senior Counsel and Head of Policy at Payne Hicks Beach LLP from 2023-2026.
Sir Robert writes and lectures regularly on constitutional law matters, current affairs and political history, collaborating on several books on these issues. He was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 and was knighted by His Majesty The King in 2022. He was a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School from 2023-25. He is a Bencher of Inner Temple and a Freeman of the City of London.
Sir Robert entered the Commons as Conservative MP for South Swindon in 2010, and during his fourteen years in Parliament, Robert served in the Conservative Governments of four Prime Ministers, becoming Solicitor General in 2014, Minister of State for Justice in 2019 and then entering the Cabinet as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from 2019 to 2021. He returned to Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales in 2022 and Chaired the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee from 2023-24.
Robert was Secretary of the 1922 Committee from 2012-14 and was Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism. He most recently chaired an independent review into autism and employment, which culminated in a report published in 2024. Robert campaigns on disability issues, domestic abuse and criminal law reform.
Prior to his election as an MP, Robert was a criminal barrister for nearly twenty years and a member of the Attorney General’s Prosecuting List. He was appointed a Crown Court Recorder in 2009 and took Silk in 2014. He was Senior Counsel and Head of Policy at Payne Hicks Beach LLP from 2023-2026.
Sir Robert writes and lectures regularly on constitutional law matters, current affairs and political history, collaborating on several books on these issues. He was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 and was knighted by His Majesty The King in 2022. He was a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School from 2023-25. He is a Bencher of Inner Temple and a Freeman of the City of London.
Alexander Hutton KC
Hailsham Chambers
Alexander’s practice is focused in two fields: clinical negligence, for claimants and defendants, and all aspects of costs law. In both these fields, Alexander is recommended in the highest band of leading silks in the directories and acts in connection with a range of clinical negligence cases, with special focus on those of the most serious nature and highest value. He has also appeared in many of the leading costs cases over the last 20 years, and was chair of the committee that introduced the now mandatory electronic bill of costs.
Alexander has appeared in a substantial proportion of the most important cases, such as Lownds, Factortame, Gloucestershire CC v Evans, Claims Direct, Accident Line, Jenkins v Young Brothers, Henry v Newsgroup, Blankley, Marcus v Medway.
He represented the appellant in Blankley v Central Manchester NHS Trust, a Court of Appeal case concerning whether the loss of a client’s mental capacity frustrates the contract of a retainer.
Alexander is instructed in cases for anyone from individuals to large corporate bodies in cases involving complex legal issues. He deals with the highest value costs cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal and in advising on retainer issues, drafting retainer documents and advising on costs issues during the course of the main litigation as well as on, and on appeal from, detailed assessments.
Alexander has appeared in a substantial proportion of the most important cases, such as Lownds, Factortame, Gloucestershire CC v Evans, Claims Direct, Accident Line, Jenkins v Young Brothers, Henry v Newsgroup, Blankley, Marcus v Medway.
He represented the appellant in Blankley v Central Manchester NHS Trust, a Court of Appeal case concerning whether the loss of a client’s mental capacity frustrates the contract of a retainer.
Alexander is instructed in cases for anyone from individuals to large corporate bodies in cases involving complex legal issues. He deals with the highest value costs cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal and in advising on retainer issues, drafting retainer documents and advising on costs issues during the course of the main litigation as well as on, and on appeal from, detailed assessments.
Roger Mallalieu KC
4 New Square Chambers
Roger Mallalieu KC has been a member of 4 New Square Chambers since 2008 and took silk in 2020. He is ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of costs law and has been involved in many of the leading cases in the area. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners as a ‘star individual’ in the field.
Recognised by the directories as a “guru on costs” with a “formidable reputation”, he has been described in the directories as “absolutely smashing” and “simply the best when it comes to costs law.” “Roger is just incredible. His intellect, advocacy and persuasiveness are second to none, and he is also down to earth and genuine. Added to this he's very patient and generous: an absolute class act.” He “wins considerable market acclaim due to his broad knowledge base and restrained yet steely manner” with a particular comment made of his ability to “bringing clarity and depth to the case” and his ability then to “integrate that into a team approach to get the best result”. He regularly appears in the Court of Appeal on important costs cases and has been instructed in some of the few costs cases to have been heard in the Supreme Court, including successfully representing the Appellants in the Supreme Court case in both Ho v Adelekun and Menzies v Oakwood Solicitors.
In recent years he has been involved in many of the largest costs and funding disputes, including many of the major funding cases in the Competition Appeals Tribunal. He successfully represented Apple in the recent case of Christine Riefa Class Representative Limited v Apple & Others, the first case in which certification of a large opt out collective action was refused by reference to funding issues following cross examination of the proposed class representative.
Roger is particularly attracted to complex technical issues and prides himself on his ability to work with his professional and lay clients to develop and then pursue a comprehensive strategy to deploy or respond to such issues at all levels.
Recognised by the directories as a “guru on costs” with a “formidable reputation”, he has been described in the directories as “absolutely smashing” and “simply the best when it comes to costs law.” “Roger is just incredible. His intellect, advocacy and persuasiveness are second to none, and he is also down to earth and genuine. Added to this he's very patient and generous: an absolute class act.” He “wins considerable market acclaim due to his broad knowledge base and restrained yet steely manner” with a particular comment made of his ability to “bringing clarity and depth to the case” and his ability then to “integrate that into a team approach to get the best result”. He regularly appears in the Court of Appeal on important costs cases and has been instructed in some of the few costs cases to have been heard in the Supreme Court, including successfully representing the Appellants in the Supreme Court case in both Ho v Adelekun and Menzies v Oakwood Solicitors.
In recent years he has been involved in many of the largest costs and funding disputes, including many of the major funding cases in the Competition Appeals Tribunal. He successfully represented Apple in the recent case of Christine Riefa Class Representative Limited v Apple & Others, the first case in which certification of a large opt out collective action was refused by reference to funding issues following cross examination of the proposed class representative.
Roger is particularly attracted to complex technical issues and prides himself on his ability to work with his professional and lay clients to develop and then pursue a comprehensive strategy to deploy or respond to such issues at all levels.
Master Jason Rowley
Senior Costs Judge
Jason Rowley has been a Costs Judge at the Senior Courts Costs Office since April 2013. On 1 May 2025, he was appointed Senior Costs Judge and chairs the SCCO’s Costs Practitioners’ Group. He is a member of the CJC’s Working Party on reform of the Solicitors Act and is a tutor at the Judicial College. Before accepting his full time judicial appointment, Jason was a Solicitor in private practice for 18 years, before becoming Chief Executive of a Barristers’ chambers in the Temple and then a Senior Underwriting Manager at a Legal Expenses Insurer.
Robert Marven KC
4 New Square Chambers
Robert Marven KC is widely known as one of the leading specialists in all aspects of the law relating to costs and litigation funding, including associated professional negligence claims. He has been instructed in many of the most important cases in these areas.
Robert is also a recognised expert in the areas of group litigation and collective proceedings, the regulation of solicitors, barristers and claims managers, and in civil procedure.
Robert is an editor of Cordery on Legal Services and a frequent author on topical issues within his areas of practice. He is also a regular speaker at many high-profile events such as the Costs Law Reports Conference, Association of Costs Annual Conference, and the Law Society Dispute Resolution Conference.
Robert is also a recognised expert in the areas of group litigation and collective proceedings, the regulation of solicitors, barristers and claims managers, and in civil procedure.
Robert is an editor of Cordery on Legal Services and a frequent author on topical issues within his areas of practice. He is also a regular speaker at many high-profile events such as the Costs Law Reports Conference, Association of Costs Annual Conference, and the Law Society Dispute Resolution Conference.
Master Jennifer James
Jennifer James qualified as a Solicitor in 1992 and throughout her professional career specialised in the field of legal Costs, becoming a Fellow of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen in 1999 and being appointed as a Deputy Costs Judge in the Senior Court Costs Office (SCCO) in 2002.
In 2007 Jennifer was admitted to the New York State Bar as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law and later that same year she taught at the University of Law, teaching on the Bar Professional Training Course’s Civil Litigation team. Jennifer was accredited by the Advocacy Training Council to give feedback upon candidates’ Advocacy in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2010. Jennifer also undertook a great deal of work on the Education Sub[1]Committee of the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) and in particular set the final exams for trainee Costs Lawyers for several years. In September 2015, Jennifer was appointed as a full-time Costs Judge (Taxing Master of the Senior Courts) and was deployed to the Royal Courts of Justice with effect from 21 September 2015. She is the first-ever full-time female Master in the SCCO.
In March 2016 Jennifer was called to the Bar and is a (non-practising) Member of Lincoln’s Inn.
In 2007 Jennifer was admitted to the New York State Bar as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law and later that same year she taught at the University of Law, teaching on the Bar Professional Training Course’s Civil Litigation team. Jennifer was accredited by the Advocacy Training Council to give feedback upon candidates’ Advocacy in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2010. Jennifer also undertook a great deal of work on the Education Sub[1]Committee of the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) and in particular set the final exams for trainee Costs Lawyers for several years. In September 2015, Jennifer was appointed as a full-time Costs Judge (Taxing Master of the Senior Courts) and was deployed to the Royal Courts of Justice with effect from 21 September 2015. She is the first-ever full-time female Master in the SCCO.
In March 2016 Jennifer was called to the Bar and is a (non-practising) Member of Lincoln’s Inn.
Professor Dominic Regan
Dominic Regan is a Solicitor (non-practising). He is Director of the Knowledge Hub at Frenkel Topping. A columnist at the ‘New Law Journal’, he also writes regularly for ‘Litigation Funding’.
Each year he delivers over 100 Civil Procedure updates to the legal profession.
Dominic advised Lord Justice Jackson on aspects of reform from 2010 until 2018 and was involved in the Intermediate Track changes.
With Sean Jones KC he writes the ‘Counsel’ magazine wine column.
Each year he delivers over 100 Civil Procedure updates to the legal profession.
Dominic advised Lord Justice Jackson on aspects of reform from 2010 until 2018 and was involved in the Intermediate Track changes.
With Sean Jones KC he writes the ‘Counsel’ magazine wine column.
Stephen Innes
4 New Square Chambers
Over the last decade Stephen has established a thriving practice in costs related work. Stephen regularly appears in the SCCO and in costs cases in other courts. His experience of numerous detailed assessment hearings is proving invaluable in relation to costs management hearings.
Stephen has considerable experience of successfully defending wasted costs applications against solicitors and barristers and in dealing with applications for security for costs and third party costs orders in large commercial cases.
Stephen has contributed to the Lexis Nexis Practice Notes on costs and on Relief from Sanctions. He has spoken at the London ACL Conference and the Liverpool Law Society Costs Conference. He has lectured extensively and had a number of articles published on topics such as hourly rates, costs budgeting, relief from sanctions, Part 36 and third party costs orders.
Stephen has considerable experience of successfully defending wasted costs applications against solicitors and barristers and in dealing with applications for security for costs and third party costs orders in large commercial cases.
Stephen has contributed to the Lexis Nexis Practice Notes on costs and on Relief from Sanctions. He has spoken at the London ACL Conference and the Liverpool Law Society Costs Conference. He has lectured extensively and had a number of articles published on topics such as hourly rates, costs budgeting, relief from sanctions, Part 36 and third party costs orders.
Simon Teasdale
4 New Square Chambers
Simon Teasdale has a specialist practice focused on costs and litigation funding in all forms of court and arbitral proceedings.
Simon is regularly involved in the most significant and high-value costs decisions and appeals in the English courts. In addition to being a ‘go to’ junior for Silks in all costs and funding-related litigation, he regularly appears as sole counsel in the High Court and Senior Courts Costs Office.
In the last 12 months alone, he has appeared in three of the most significant costs cases to reach the Court of Appeal and is acting in a number of the most high-profile group actions currently ongoing (including the ‘Dieselgate’ NOx Emissions litigation, ‘Phone hacking’ claims against NGN, shareholder claims against Glencore and civil claims arising out of the
Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017).
Simon is ranked as a Leading Junior for Costs in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.
Simon is regularly involved in the most significant and high-value costs decisions and appeals in the English courts. In addition to being a ‘go to’ junior for Silks in all costs and funding-related litigation, he regularly appears as sole counsel in the High Court and Senior Courts Costs Office.
In the last 12 months alone, he has appeared in three of the most significant costs cases to reach the Court of Appeal and is acting in a number of the most high-profile group actions currently ongoing (including the ‘Dieselgate’ NOx Emissions litigation, ‘Phone hacking’ claims against NGN, shareholder claims against Glencore and civil claims arising out of the
Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017).
Simon is ranked as a Leading Junior for Costs in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.
Simon Davis
Solicitor and Former President of the Law Society
Solicitor and Former President of the Law Society
Simon Davis is a commercial litigation solicitor and accredited mediator with over 40 years’ experience in the law.
He studied Jurisprudence at Magdalen College, Oxford, before completing his legal training at Guildford College of Law. He began his career at Clifford Turner (later Clifford Chance), including a period on secondment in Luxembourg.
Simon became a Litigation Partner in 1994 and went on to lead his firm’s Commercial Litigation practice, as well as serving as Partner in Charge of Recruitment and as a member of the Partnership Council. Alongside his litigation work, Simon has been a CEDR-accredited mediator since 1997 and served on the Court of Appeal Mediation Panel.
Simon has also been closely involved in the leadership of the legal profession. He served as President of the Law Society of England and Wales from 2019 to 2020, having previously represented the City of London solicitors on the Law Society Council and served on its Board.
Over the years, he has chaired and contributed to a wide range of professional organisations, including serving as President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association,
Beyond practice and professional leadership, Simon holds/has held a number of governance and trustee roles, including at Birkbeck College (where he served as Vice Chair of Governors), the Access to Justice Foundation and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
He studied Jurisprudence at Magdalen College, Oxford, before completing his legal training at Guildford College of Law. He began his career at Clifford Turner (later Clifford Chance), including a period on secondment in Luxembourg.
Simon became a Litigation Partner in 1994 and went on to lead his firm’s Commercial Litigation practice, as well as serving as Partner in Charge of Recruitment and as a member of the Partnership Council. Alongside his litigation work, Simon has been a CEDR-accredited mediator since 1997 and served on the Court of Appeal Mediation Panel.
Simon has also been closely involved in the leadership of the legal profession. He served as President of the Law Society of England and Wales from 2019 to 2020, having previously represented the City of London solicitors on the Law Society Council and served on its Board.
Over the years, he has chaired and contributed to a wide range of professional organisations, including serving as President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association,
Beyond practice and professional leadership, Simon holds/has held a number of governance and trustee roles, including at Birkbeck College (where he served as Vice Chair of Governors), the Access to Justice Foundation and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Shaman Kapoor
39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers
Shaman specialises in costs and litigation funding together with a broader practice in commercial and common law litigation and group action work. He appears regularly in the High Court and the Senior Courts Costs Office, often involved in appellate work or complex points of principle and injunctive relief.
His recent involvement in group action work includes the claims against the regulatory bodies in the sport of rugby in the concussion litigation and the civil claims arising out of the Grenfell tower tragedy. He has experience of representing professional sports players in anti-doping proceedings and has contributed to the editorial work towards the regulation of British Wrestling. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, having specialised in international arbitration, and receives instructions domestically and internationally.
He is a frequent speaker at key seminars on the costs and funding calendar and a contributing editor to Thomson Reuters’ “Costs & Funding following the Civil Justice Reforms: Questions & Answers”, The White Book. He is a Lead Advocacy Tutor for Lincoln’s Inn and has been ranked by the Directories as a leading junior for many years.
He is the editor of our bi-annual Costs Newsletter (3+9 = Costs) and is joint-head of Chambers’ Costs Group. He is appointed as a member of Chambers’ Management Board and separately appointed as a school Governor. He is a qualified Mediator and is an appointed Deputy District Judge.
His recent involvement in group action work includes the claims against the regulatory bodies in the sport of rugby in the concussion litigation and the civil claims arising out of the Grenfell tower tragedy. He has experience of representing professional sports players in anti-doping proceedings and has contributed to the editorial work towards the regulation of British Wrestling. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, having specialised in international arbitration, and receives instructions domestically and internationally.
He is a frequent speaker at key seminars on the costs and funding calendar and a contributing editor to Thomson Reuters’ “Costs & Funding following the Civil Justice Reforms: Questions & Answers”, The White Book. He is a Lead Advocacy Tutor for Lincoln’s Inn and has been ranked by the Directories as a leading junior for many years.
He is the editor of our bi-annual Costs Newsletter (3+9 = Costs) and is joint-head of Chambers’ Costs Group. He is appointed as a member of Chambers’ Management Board and separately appointed as a school Governor. He is a qualified Mediator and is an appointed Deputy District Judge.
Dick Warner
Class Publishing
Dick Warner is the chairman of Class Publishing, which publishes resources for lawyers under its Class Legal imprint. In 2025, our 35th year of independent publishing, Class won the top UK award as Professional Publisher of the Year.
For UK civil litigators, we provide the only definitive collection of all key UK costs law cases, plus incisive headnotes. All the Costs Law Reports cases and headnotes are made available online, as soon as the cases are handed down, throughout the year.
The Editors of Costs Law Reports, Master Colin Campbell and Rebecca Humble (who succeeded Teresa Aitken in 2025), select the key costs cases as they are published, and give each of them an incisive and succinct Headnote, alongside the full text of the judgment.
Costs Law Reports online is the biggest and most comprehensive online archive of key Costs Law cases, both civil and criminal, from the Senior Courts Costs Office and Higher Courts. Currently there are more than 2300 cases for subscribers to access instantly, increasing at a rate of over 100 each year, all available on your PC, iPad, or mobile phone.
For UK civil litigators, we provide the only definitive collection of all key UK costs law cases, plus incisive headnotes. All the Costs Law Reports cases and headnotes are made available online, as soon as the cases are handed down, throughout the year.
The Editors of Costs Law Reports, Master Colin Campbell and Rebecca Humble (who succeeded Teresa Aitken in 2025), select the key costs cases as they are published, and give each of them an incisive and succinct Headnote, alongside the full text of the judgment.
Costs Law Reports online is the biggest and most comprehensive online archive of key Costs Law cases, both civil and criminal, from the Senior Courts Costs Office and Higher Courts. Currently there are more than 2300 cases for subscribers to access instantly, increasing at a rate of over 100 each year, all available on your PC, iPad, or mobile phone.
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