Keith Bintley Limited

Keith Bintley Limited (“KBL”) is a London-based firm specialising in legal costs, with a combined nearly 60 years of experience between its two directors. Both directors have previously held senior roles at larger firms, with one serving as a training director for ten years and the other as head of adverse claims and insurance litigation. Their extensive expertise encompasses the complexities of legal costs, and they have worked with the majority of senior costs counsel in the field.

The firm primarily serves highly regarded London solicitors, as well as leading firms from provincial cities. Most work is conducted in London, with hearings predominantly held at the Senior Courts Costs Office. KBL does not undertake legal aid or criminal costs work. The firm focuses on commercial matters, insurance cases, catastrophic injuries, matrimonial costs claims, and contentious trusts and probate costs. Its directors regularly appear in court as advocates in support of or opposing costs counsel, and clients frequently instruct them to appear on the court record. The firm also handles large or complex cases on behalf of solicitors’ in-house costs departments, including recent Privy Council cases.

KBL provides services for both receiving and paying parties. While the firm does not handle volume insurance work, the insurance cases it undertakes often involve complex or novel arguments requiring specialist knowledge. Its directors and team understand the nuances of complex litigation, providing services such as budget preparation, bill defence, and advice on international costs disputes, including recent matters in the Bahamas and Gibraltar.

All fee earners employed directly by the firm possess at least 15 years of experience in legal costs, and work is managed in-house to maintain high standards of quality and service. For the year ended 31 August 2023, the firm recorded a 29% increase in turnover from the previous year, with January 2024 marking its highest monthly turnover to date, up 19.9% from the previous record.

KBL relies on word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat business rather than advertising. In 2023, the firm expanded its team by recruiting an additional senior costs lawyer to meet growing demand. The firm continues to develop a tailored case management system to ensure effective operation within the legal costs sector. This system facilitates accurate case recording, enables multiple lawyers to work on a single matter, and supports negotiation and preparation of bills and budgets for larger cases. All work is integrated through Office 360 and specialist software to maintain continuity and efficiency.

The firm places a strong emphasis on staff training and professional development, underwriting the costs of both internal and external training, including in-person sessions that foster learning and networking with other costs professionals, barristers, and costs judges. Both directors are members of the Association of Costs Lawyers and the Costs Lawyer’s Standard Board.

Staffing: All fee earners have a minimum of 15 years’ experience in legal costs
Memberships: Association of Costs Lawyers; Costs Lawyer’s Standard Board