Fraser Barnstaple

This Practice Note provides information on what fixed costs are, the types and value of cases that come within fixed costs and cases that are excluded. It provides information on the rules applicable to fixed costs cases and gives working examples on how to calculate fixed costs. It also provides guidance on practical issues and points for consideration.

This Practice Notes provides guidance on disbursements for civil cases, valued at no more than £100,000, that come within the extended fixed costs regime on or after 1 October 2023. It provides information on the disbursements which are recoverable for fast track cases and intermediate cases and the relevant provisions under CPR 45, Section IX.

This Practice Note considers the fixed costs regime for civil cases that are allocated to the fast track. It provides information on CPR PD 45, Table 12 in respect of the applicable fixed costs for fast track cases, which depends on complexity band assignment and the stage in which settlement is reached or whether the case proceeds to trial. It also considers the meaning of damages under CPR PD 45, Table 12 (fixed costs for fast track cases) and provides guidance on specialist legal advice and preliminary issues or separate trials. Guidance is also provided on potential points for practitioners to consider.

This Practice Note considers the fixed costs regime for civil cases that are allocated to the intermediate track. It provides information on CPR PD 45, Table 14 in respect of the applicable fixed costs for intermediate track cases, which depends on complexity band assignment and the stage in which settlement is reached or whether the case proceeds to trial. It also considers pre-issue costs, the costs of specialist legal advice and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) costs. Guidance is also provided on potential points for practitioners to consider.

This Practice Note considers the fixed costs regime which applies to most civil claims with a value of no more than £100,000 that are issued on or after 1 October 2023 (except personal injury cases as the extended fixed costs regime applies where the cause of action accrued on or after 1 October 2023 and disease cases as the fixed costs regime applies where the letter of claim was sent to the defendant on or after 1 October 2023). This Practice Note provides guidance on the general provisions under CPR 45, Section I and explains the purpose of the fixed costs regime, the different categories of claims to which it applies and the applicable fixed costs.

The background to the Court of Appeal decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys (2026) is set out below along with key questions and answers arising from this decision. Consideration is also given to the potential implications of this decision from a costs recovery perspective.BackgroundCharles Russell Speechlys LLP instructed Goldsmith Bowers Solicitors (GBS) to recover unpaid fees from Mrs Mazur. The litigation was handled almost entirely by Mr Middleton, ‘Head of Commercial Litigation’ at GBS. He was employed by a regulated firm but did not hold a current practising certificate. He was unqualified, yet carried out many if not all of the salient steps in the litigation. Mrs Mazur applied for his replacement with a qualified solicitor.A solicitor at GBS filed a witness statement confirming that all of Mr Middleton’s work had been done under his supervision. HHJ Simpkiss, hearing the application, held that Mr Middleton was permitted to conduct litigation under that supervision. The decision was appealed.Sheldon J overturned HHJ Simpkiss’s decision and analysed the effect of