Senior Costs Litigator - #1701118

About HMRC Legal Group:
Across HMRC Legal Group we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes:

• The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.


• The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.


• Work on new legislation.


• Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.


• Legal advice to ExCom and staff.

We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.
This Team Specifically deals with-
The Legal Costs Team sits in the NICERS (National Minimum Wage, Insolvency, Costs, Enforcement, Readiness and Support) Team. The Costs Team is a busy team that undertakes the assessment of legal costs, both in Adverse Costs and Costs Recovery for HMRC and the Valuation Office Agency as well as work in relation to Costs Budgets. The work includes various types of costs recovery and adverse, including Tax related litigation, and general civil litigation including judicial reviews and personal injury. Our work is split in the various jurisdictions in the various tax and valuation Tribunals as well as the civil Courts at all levels. Members of the Team will often provide costs related advice and/or training to lawyers and case workers within the HMRC Legal Group.

You must be able to grasp complex or technical matters quickly and possesses a keen eye for detail while maintaining a comprehensive overview. A working knowledge of legalisation and case law in relation to costs and the relevant CPR and Practice Directions. The successful candidate will be required to work under minimal supervision and can work well under pressure. Your work will be predominantly with lawyers, paralegals, and other litigators but you will also work with panel counsel, panel costs lawyers and other stakeholders.

• You will be responsible for drafting costs budgets, assessing bills of costs, drafting Points of Dispute, negotiating settlements and drafting Schedules of Costs.


• Attending costs hearings, including anywhere within England and Wales, where and when necessary, potentially at short notice.


• Draft Instructions to Counsel, Costs Panel Member, or a Junior Team Member.


• Make and respond to Costs Applications.


• Provide Costs Training within the Costs Team and the wider HMRC Legal Group.


• Report to Finance monthly.


• Manage a small number of team members.

Please note this position is not for a Costs Lawyer and does not require a Costs Lawyers qualification.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to manage and prioritise a caseload efficiently, as well as work well under pressure and adhere to short-notice deadlines.


• Be able to assess claims which are high value and complex.


• Strong knowledge of costs budgeting.


• Excellent negotiation and analytical skills to secure the best outcomes.


• Strong communication skills to liaise effectively with all levels of stakeholders.


• Excellent technical skills in the relevant area, and strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.


• Proficient IT skills including using Microsoft 365 packages including Office, Teams and SharePoint.

Essential Criteria:

Candidates must have significant direct costs experience.

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