Following his nationwide research into the operation of costs budgeting, Lord Justice Jackson will announce his preliminary findings at the Annual Harbour Lecture, on 13 May 2015, according to litigationfutures.com.
The Judicial Office confirmed that Lord Justice Jackson has been carrying out research across the UK to explore which aspects are working well, which are not and which of the rules may need to be changed. The lecture itself will help inform the debate and any future review and evaluation that takes place. One source is quoted as saying emerging themes include a need for consistency across different courts, the introduction of training and a standard set of directions. And, although guideline hourly rates would remain the same indefinitely, there may be the possible use of a complexity uplift.
Lord Justice Jackson will be joined by Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, at this year’s Harbour Lecture and both will address the topic ‘Confronting Costs Management’.
A video of the lecture will be available on the Harbour website from 18 May. Please email belinda.peel@harbourlf.com for a link.
