Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Costs definition

What does Costs mean? In litigation, costs are the legal fees, disbursements, court fees and VAT incurred in bringing, defending or appealing a claim, and the sums a court or tribunal may order one party to pay another for those liabilities. The concept is governed by procedural rules and case law rather than a single statutory definition: England and Wales (CPR 44–47), Northern Ireland (RCJ Ord 62), Scotland (where the equivalent term is expenses), and Ireland (Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and the Legal Costs Adjudicators). The general approach is broadly consistent, subject to local terminology and procedure. Typical features include the discretionary rule...

Statutory Public Inquiries in the UK: Procedure, Roles, Evidence, Disclosure, Costs and Reporting under the Inquiries Act 2005

Published by a LexisNexis Public Law expert

Practice notes

The way a public inquiry is run can differ markedly from one to another. Even where an inquiry is set up under the Inquiries Act 2005 (IA 2005), the accompanying rules give limited prescription on process. Likewise, formal guidance is sparse. The Cabinet Office’s Inquiries Guidance: Guidance for Inquiry Chairs and Secretaries and Sponsor Departments was characterised by a witness before the House of Lords Select Committee on the Inquiries Act 2005 as ‘frankly…no use at all’. This Practice Note concentrates on statutory, not non‑statutory, inquiries. For further context, see Practice Note: Public inquiries.

Key stages of an inquiry

the announcement of the inquiry, its terms of reference, and appointment of a chair or panel
the formal opening of the inquiry
recruiting an inquiry secretary and team, plus a solicitor to the inquiry and counsel to the inquiry
gathering and preserving evidence
preliminary enquiries, scoping work and relevance reviews—typically culminating in a detailed list of issues
disclosure, including publication of any disclosure protocols
witness statements...

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Jim Duffy

1COR

Jim Duffy’s practice spans clinical negligence, inquests and inquiries, personal injury, human rights and employment.He is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘C’ Panel of Counsel and has particular experience of prison law claims, acting on both sides. He regularly advises in cases involving parole board decisions, security categorisations, and personal injury claims brought in a prison context. In 2013-14 Jim acted as Judicial Assistant to Lord Reed and Lord Hodge at the UK Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Jim regularly acts for families, NHS Trusts, doctors and patients in clinical negligence claims. In July 2018, Jim was led by Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC for the appellant children in CN & GN v. Poole Borough Council. The Supreme Court considered whether and in what circumstances local authorities might owe a duty at common law to children at risk of...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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