Goodwin Malatesta

Established over 18 years ago, Goodwin Malatesta is a distinguished firm specialising in the intricate field of legal costs assessment and management. Renowned for its meticulous attention to detail and client care, the firm provides comprehensive services designed to optimise legal costs efficiency and ensure fair outcomes in costs disputes. With a team of experienced legal professionals, the firm offers expertise in a variety of costs related areas, including cost budgeting, bills of costs preparation, costs negotiations and advocacy at both CCMCs and detailed assessments. We represent clients in all forms of legal costs disputes including those at the County Court and High Court Level, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and in the Privy Council.

Our offices are based in Ongar, Essex but we provide expert costs assistance to firms of solicitors, corporate clients directly and insurers/indemnifiers both within the United Kingdom and in other jurisdictions including, but not limited to the British Virgin Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Bahamas. At the core of Goodwin Malatesta’s offerings is its commitment to precision and transparency. The firm employs advanced analytical tools and methodologies to meticulously examine legal expenses, ensuring that every cost is justified and appropriately allocated. This rigorous approach not only helps clients manage and reduce their legal costs exposure but also strengthens their position in cost-related negotiations and disputes.

The firm evolved from a niche practice providing assistance in relation to claims for costs arising out of clinical and professional negligence litigation and continues to be one of the leading firms, representing many of the major Medical Defence Organisations, Public Health Authorities and other private professional indemnifiers. It is not uncommon for the firm to represent every Defendant on legal costs issues in multi-Defendant clinical negligence claims where various Medical Defence Organisations or Public Health Bodies are involved, both at the costs budgeting and detailed assessment, clearly demonstrating the firm's high level of expertise and standing within this area of costs litigation.

By extending our core experience and skills, the practice today provides prompt expert and cost-effective advice on all aspects of legal costs ranging from minor value claims through to large scale commercial disputes running into many millions of pounds. Every instruction that we receive gets the equal attention that we believe our clients deserve, regardless of its size or complexity.

Goodwin Malatesta have an extensive commercial legal costs practice and have been involved in numerous complex and high value claims including some of the largest claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The firm more recently has also been involved in very high profile class actions, working alongside Claimants' solicitors and Counsel team as legal costs experts.

We also provide assistance to third party funders, providing detailed budgets and reports with commentary on cases from a costs perspective, advising on costs budgeting and the applicable rules. This assistance is invaluable to funders in their decision making process, particularly when assessing risk.

The firm has also seen an increase in instructions concerning solicitor and client disputes including enforceability of retainers and we have been regularly instructed on important and complex proceedings under s.70 of the Solicitors Act 1974, including cases that are widely reported.

Goodwin Malatesta is more than just a consultancy firm; it is a trusted partner that embodies integrity, innovation, excellence, and collaboration to deliver unparalleled value and service to its clients. Client satisfaction is paramount. The firm prides itself on its responsive and personalised service, working closely with clients to understand their unique challenges and deliver solutions and results. Whether representing corporate entities, law firms, or individual clients, Goodwin Malatesta is dedicated to achieving optimal outcomes and fostering long-term client relationships built on trust and excellence.

We believe that the long standing success of Goodwin Malatesta is due to the reputation of the firm for excellence and its team who strive to always provide professional, efficient and dependable legal costs solutions to its clients. In summary, Goodwin Malatesta stands out for its expertise, precision, and unwavering commitment to client success in the realm of legal costs assessment and management.

The services provided include the following:

Costs management: Goodwin Malatesta offers specialised cost management services with a focus on comprehensive support throughout the budgeting process.  Our expertise includes advising on cost budgeting and costs management procedures, ensuring clients meet all necessary requirements.  We assist in preparing detailed cost budgets, scrutinising and raising objections to opponents' budgets to safeguard our clients' financial interests and achieve their objectives.

During hearings, our skilled advocacy aims to maximise our clients' cost budget positions, providing robust representation.  As part of our services, we offer to diligently monitor and report on cost budgets and prepare revisions as needed to reflect changing circumstances and maintain financial control.  Throughout the duration of a case, Goodwin Malatesta handle all cost budgeting issues, ensuring seamless management and resolution of any arising challenges. This end-to-end service ensures that our clients are well-positioned to manage litigation costs effectively, optimise financial outcomes, and achieve strategic objectives.
Contacts: Malcolm Goodwin, Domenico Malatesta, Mark Kirby, Anthony James, John Alexander

Costs recovery: Goodwin Malatesta excels in the prompt preparation of detailed and accurate bills of costs, ensuring precise documentation and compliance with legal rules and standards.  We also meticulously prepare statements of costs for summary assessments, providing clear and comprehensive summaries that facilitate efficient judicial review and maximise costs recovery.  Our expertise includes drafting precise replies to points of dispute, effectively countering challenges and safeguarding our clients' financial interests.

In addition to drafting bills of costs and schedules, we conduct strategic negotiations, leveraging our in-depth knowledge to achieve favourable resolutions.  Our skilled advocacy at detailed assessment hearings further ensures robust representation, presenting well-prepared arguments to maximise cost recovery. This holistic approach covers every aspect of cost recovery, from initial preparation to final resolution, ensuring clients receive optimal financial outcomes and comprehensive support.  Our dedication to accuracy, strategy, and effective advocacy makes us a trusted partner in the costs recovery process.
Contacts: Malcolm Goodwin, Domenico Malatesta, Mark Kirby, Laura Dear, John Alexander

Opposing costs: Goodwin Malatesta offers a comprehensive service opposing legal costs in civil litigation, providing expert advice on costs presented through both schedules of costs and bills of costs.  Our team precisely draft points of dispute, ensuring that any contested cost claims are effectively challenged and clearly articulated.  By conducting strategic and well-informed negotiations, we work to resolve cost issues in a manner that is favourable to our clients, aiming to optimise financial outcomes.

Our expertise extends to providing robust advocacy in detailed assessment hearings, where we represent our clients with confidence and precision.  This includes presenting well-prepared arguments and defending our clients' positions to minimise costs liabilities. Goodwin Malatesta's integrated approach ensures that all aspects of cost opposition are handled with diligence and professionalism, from initial consideration of the costs claim, advice and drafting points of dispute through to negotiation and advocacy. Our goal is to deliver optimal financial results while providing unwavering support throughout the cost assessment process.
Contacts: Malcolm Goodwin, Domenico Malatesta, Mark Kirby, Scott O’Rourke, Claire Addicott, Laura Dear, John Alexander

Solicitor and own client costs: Goodwin Malatesta specialises in disputes between solicitors and clients regarding fees charged, offering expert advice and guidance to either party. Our aim is to objectively assess the merits of each dispute and work towards maximising the best possible outcome for our clients.  Representing either solicitors or clients, we handle court proceedings with professionalism and precision.

Our services include the production of comprehensive documents such as costs breakdowns, points of dispute, replies, witness statements, and statements of case.  Additionally, our team provides skilled advocacy at detailed assessment hearings, ensuring robust representation and effective arguments.  Our holistic approach ensures thorough handling of all aspects of fee disputes, from initial advice to final resolution, delivering optimal financial results and unwavering client support.  Our dedication to client-care, meticulous documentation, and strategic advocacy makes us a trusted partner in resolving fee-related disputes.
Contacts: Malcolm Goodwin, Laura Dear

Other services: Goodwin Malatesta offers expert services in all areas of legal costs. These include the assessment of costs in Court of Protection cases, ensuring meticulous handling of costs payments in these sensitive cases.  We also specialise in the recovery of costs in criminal proceedings, leveraging our deep understanding of legal frameworks to secure favourable outcomes.  Additionally, we provide comprehensive advice on all aspects of legal costs, readily available via telephone and email to address any client queries promptly.

Our director, Malcolm Goodwin is an accredited costs lawyer and conducts informative seminars and training sessions, sharing his valuable insight and best practices in costs management.  These educational initiatives are designed to enhance our clients' understanding and capabilities, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of legal costs.

Goodwin Malatesta’s commitment to excellence, accessibility, and education underscores our dedication to supporting our clients' needs across all areas of legal cost control and management.
Contacts: Malcolm Goodwin, Domenico Malatesta, Mark Kirby, Laura Dear

Foreign jurisdictions: After many years working in legal costs, both directors have considerable expertise on the recovery and opposition of costs in other jurisdictions including Guernsey, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Bahamas.

Third party funding: Due to our involvement in heavy commercial disputes, we are able to provide assistance to third party funders when approached to provide funding in civil litigation.  We provide detailed reports to funders with commentary on the case from a costs perspective, advice on the parties’ costs budgets and the applicable rules concerning estimates and budgets to assist funders in their decision making process.