Robert Collington, Costs Lawyer.
A CLSB-regulated Costs Lawyer for detailed assessment hearings, costs and case management conferences and complex costs disputes across England and Wales.
About Robert
Robert Collington is a qualified Costs Lawyer, regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB). He has worked in the legal costs sector since 2010 and qualified as a Costs Lawyer in 2020, having completed the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) Costs Lawyer Course. Over that time he has built particular experience in complex clinical negligence and commercial litigation costs, where bills are large, the evidence is detailed and the arguments on both sides are finely balanced.
Robert's work centres on the factors that actually decide how much costs are recovered or paid: the evidence supporting each part of the claim, whether the sums are proportionate to what was at stake, and how strong each party's position really is. That analysis shapes the advice he gives at the outset and the arguments he puts to the court at a hearing.
He also runs ARC Costs Limited, the costs practice behind arccosts.co.uk and costs-lawyer.co.uk, which works for receiving and paying parties throughout England and Wales.
How a Costs Lawyer can represent you
Robert is not a barrister. As a Costs Lawyer he is authorised to conduct costs litigation and to appear as an advocate in costs proceedings. For many clients that makes him the proportionate choice: one specialist who knows the bill, the points of dispute and the evidence, and who can take the matter from first review to final costs certificate.
- Detailed assessment hearings: preparing for and arguing the hearing, item by item, before a costs judge or district judge. See our guide to the detailed assessment hearing.
- Provisional assessment and oral reviews: advising whether a review is worth pursuing and presenting it where it is.
- Costs and case management conferences (CCMCs): preparing and defending Precedent H costs budgets, and challenging an opponent's budget, so recovery is protected long before the case ends.
- Bills of costs, points of dispute and replies: clear, well evidenced documents that put the strongest points first.
- Costs advice and negotiation: realistic assessments of costs exposure, settlement offers and their consequences.
Experience
Robert's experience includes complex clinical negligence claims, where bills often run to substantial sums and turn on expert evidence, hourly rates and the proportionality of the work done, and commercial litigation, where disputes over budgets, incurred costs and conduct can be as hard fought as the claim itself. He acts for both receiving parties seeking to recover their costs and paying parties looking to reduce them.
Costs Lawyer or costs barrister?
Most costs disputes are best handled by a Costs Lawyer from start to finish. Where a matter raises a significant point of principle, or an appeal, a specialist legal costs barrister can be brought in, often working alongside the Costs Lawyer so the overall spend stays proportionate. We will tell you honestly which is the better fit for your matter.
Instructing Robert through Clerk & Counsel
Send us a short summary of your costs matter, with the bill of costs, points of dispute, costs budget or court order if you have them. We will check Robert's availability and come back to you with a fixed fee quote before any work starts. Enquiries are free. If you instruct him through us, our service fee of up to £150 depending on urgency is shown separately from his professional fee before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Costs Lawyer?
A Costs Lawyer is a qualified legal professional who specialises entirely in legal costs. Costs Lawyers are regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB) and are authorised to conduct costs litigation and to act as advocates in costs proceedings, including detailed assessment hearings.
Is Robert Collington a barrister?
No. Robert is a qualified Costs Lawyer, not a barrister. He is regulated by the CLSB rather than the Bar Standards Board, and his practice is limited to legal costs, where he can represent clients at costs hearings.
Can a Costs Lawyer represent me at a detailed assessment hearing?
Yes. Representing clients at detailed assessment hearings is one of the core functions of a Costs Lawyer. Robert can also deal with provisional assessment reviews and costs budgeting at costs and case management conferences.
Do I need a Costs Lawyer or a costs barrister?
For most detailed assessments and budgeting hearings, a Costs Lawyer is the proportionate choice. A costs barrister is usually only needed for a major point of principle or an appeal. We can advise on the best fit and, where needed, a Costs Lawyer and counsel can work together.
How much does it cost to instruct Robert?
Robert quotes a fixed fee once he has seen the bill, points of dispute or budget. Submitting an enquiry is free. If you instruct him through us, our service fee of up to £150 depending on urgency is shown separately from his professional fee before you decide.