The True Cost of Delay Why Timeliness in Cost Proceedings Matters

In today’s cost conscious legal climate, timeliness in managing costs proceedings has become a procedural preference and a fundamental necessity. Delays in costs budgeting, preparing bills, applying for assessments, or responding to Points of Dispute are increasingly met with disapproval by the courts, not to mention the financial risk and reputational damage they can cause.

At County Cost Consultants, we understand the direct and indirect consequences that unnecessary delay can have; on a case, a client and the wider interests of justice. It’s why we’ve refined our processes over the past 25 years to ensure clients receive a service that is not only accurate and thorough, but exceptionally timely.

Time Isn’t Just Money…It’s Costs Recovery

Whether acting for receiving or paying parties, unnecessary delay can undermine entitlement, limit recoverability and derail a cost strategy that would otherwise have been effective. While timeframes have always played a role in the costs process, recent judicial commentary and case law developments in 2025 show that courts are less tolerant than ever of missed deadlines and administrative delays.

Failure to file a Precedent H on time, for example, can lead to parties being treated as having filed a budget limited to court fees only, a harsh but increasingly upheld consequence. Similarly, a delay in applying for a detailed assessment, even post settlement, can open the door for challenges or strike outs under CPR 47.8.

County’s specialist team is acutely aware of these risks. Our internal service level agreements are designed to mitigate them from the outset. We pride ourselves on meeting deadlines and proactively managing the entire costs timetable on behalf of our clients.

A Judiciary That’s Watching the Clock

In recent years, and particularly in the wake of the post Covid judicial backlog and the reforms to Fixed Recoverable Costs, there has been a noticeable shift in judicial attitudes toward procedural delay. Judges are rightly placing emphasis on efficiency, compliance and fairness between parties. The result is a climate where cost practitioners must be agile, alert, and above all, prepared.

Recent judgments have reinforced this position. Cost budgets filed out of time have been disallowed in whole or in part. Bills of costs drafted months after settlement have faced increased scrutiny. Replies submitted late have in some cases prejudiced the entire negotiation strategy. These decisions highlight that delay is no longer simply inconvenient, it’s potentially costly.

Our team actively anticipates the judicial direction of travel. Our in house training, led by experienced costs lawyers and accredited trainers, ensures that every member of our team is fully aligned with the expectations of the court.

Internal Delays, External Impact

Often, delay originates not in bad faith or negligence, but in resourcing gaps, lack of clarity on process, or simple oversight. Unfortunately, the origin rarely matters when outcomes are compromised.

Our systems are engineered to prevent such breakdowns. From initial instruction through to assessment or settlement, we maintain full visibility of key dates, track all time sensitive milestones and communicate clearly with clients at every step. Our clients value this predictability, particularly where cost proceedings may sit alongside complex or ongoing litigation.

This is also why law firms return to County Cost time and again. They know that our diligence translates into results, from maximising recovery in high value clinical negligence claims to ensuring compliance in commercially sensitive disputes.

Prevention Over Cure

What sets County Cost apart is our ability to pre-empt potential delays before they arise. We provide strategic advice at the earliest opportunity, ensuring cost budgets are both compliant and credible. Our expert draftspeople produce Bills of Costs within agreed timeframes, and our advocacy team is equipped to act quickly in applications, hearings and negotiations where swift representation is required.

Timeliness also plays a crucial role in negotiation. A delay in serving a Bill or Points of Dispute can weaken a party’s leverage or invite tactical pressure from the opposing side. With our team managing these exchanges, our clients can move forward from settlement to resolution with confidence.

Why It Matters in 2025

The expansion of Fixed Recoverable Costs, increased judicial scrutiny, and a renewed focus on proportionality means that every decision counts and time is very much of the essence.

Our role at County is to support clients when dealing with such matters without unnecessary friction. We’ve built our reputation on legal expertise, responsiveness, transparency and a deep respect for our clients’ time and interests.

In an era where every procedural step is under the microscope, County Cost Consultants offers a service that goes beyond drafting. We’re a trusted partner in the litigation process, committed to delivering timely, compliant and commercially sound results.

Don’t let delays compromise your recovery. Trust County to keep you on track.