4 New Square Chambers

Robert Marven is a specialist in all areas of costs law. He is also an expert on the law concerning the funding of litigation. He has been instructed in a range of high profile cases in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Senior Courts Costs Office and the County Court. Robert also has considerable experience in mediating costs and related disputes both as a representative and as a mediator.  Robert’s practice includes: costs issues arising from high value litigation; conditional fee agreements and contingency fee agreements; commercial funding for substantial disputes; costs budgeting and funding for major group litigation; legal expenses insurance and ‘after the event’ insurance; fixed costs; costs budgets and estimates; costs capping; as well as wasted and non-party costs orders. Robert acts for a wide range of clients including PLCs and public bodies, solicitors, major insurers, funders, claims management companies and individuals. He is often brought into major litigation to advise and to present submissions on specific costs issues. Robert provides strategic advice on matters of commercial importance to insurers, solicitors and others involved with the management and funding of litigation. His cases include: Davey v Money [2019] Costs LR 399; JLE (A Child) v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Kupeli v Cyprus Turkish Airlines & Atlasjet [2018] 4 All ER 434; Hanley v JC&A Solicitors [2018] 4 Costs LR 693; Parvez v Mooney Everett Solicitors Ltd [2018] 1 Costs LO 125; Surrey v Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust [2018] 1 WLR 5831; Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Ltd (No 2) [2017] 1 WLR 1249; EMW v Halborg [2018] 1 WLR 52; Harrison v Eversheds LLP [2017] 5 Costs LR 931; Cashman v Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust [2015] 3 Costs LO 411; Broni v Ministry of Defence  [2015] 1 Costs LR 111; Tasleem v Beverley [2014] 1 WLR 3567; Ultimate Products Ltd v Woolley [2014] 5 Costs LO 787 and [2014] EWHC 1919 (Ch); Light on Line Ltd v Zumtobel Lighting Ltd [2013] 1 Costs LR 129; Letts v Royal Sun Alliance plc [2012] 3 Costs LR 591; Joyce v West Bus Coach Services Ltd [2012] 3 Costs LR 540; Legal Services Commission v F [2011] 5 Costs LR 740; Rybak v Langbar International Ltd [2011] PNLR 16; Sulaman v Axa and Direct Line [2010] 3 Costs LR 391; Tankard v John Fredericks Plastics Ltd [The Accident Line Protect test cases] [2009] 1 WLR 1731, [2009] 4 All ER 526; Crane v Canons Leisure Centre [2008] 1 WLR 2549, [2008] 2 All ER 931, Days Healthcare UK Ltd v Pihsiang Machinery Manufacturing Co Ltd [2006] 4 All ER 233.

MA (Cantab). Called 1994, Middle Temple.

Felsted School; Trinity College, Cambridge University BA Hons (1993); Inns of Court School of Law (Bar vocational course, 1994); Middle Temple Astbury Scholar (1993).