England - London • Dispute resolution
Masters Legal Costs Services LLP
With a strong presence in London and the Caribbean, clients praise Masters Legal Costs Services LLP‘s ’unparalleled quality of service and product‘ across all aspects of costs law, from recovery and opposition of costs through to funding advice and consultancy services. Based in the Cayman Islands office, managing partner Philip Daval-Bowden works alongside his experienced London team which includes David Platnauer and Nico Myburgh, who specialise in complex, high quantum costs claims. Natalie Swales is the specialist in management and budgeting issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Masters is one of the leading costs firms in the country. They have high quality and high value costs work across a range of practice areas. They have an excellent team and over the last few years have taken their reputation higher in this sector due to the knowledge of costs law and the ability of their partners and staff.'
- 'Masters' quality of service and product is unparalleled. That's why they are seen as the 'go to' firm in this area.'
- 'Absolutely top-notch team with fantastic costs lawyers. They are truly expert, and we trust them as an extension of our team. Thank you Masters!'
- 'Philip Daval-Bowden is the senior partner and one of the most able costs lawyers in the country. I have witnessed him defeat leading costs counsel in the courts with his advocacy. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of his cases.'
- 'Also worthy of mention is Nico Myburgh a partner at Masters for his hard and work and industry knowledge.'
- 'Their knowledge in the area of costs lawyers is better than any we as a firm have come across before. They are extremely reasonable in fees, always deliver high quality work and always on time - we have never been let down by their advice - would happily recommend them on to any clients or other firms.'
- 'Phil Daval-Bowden - simply superb. He would not be out of place at the bar given his ability to structure and present compelling legal arguments. He has the legal principles at his fingertips.'
- 'David Platnauer - an excellent practitioner with sound skills and interpersonal skills. Easy to deal with, and no task is too small/too large for David to handle.'
Key clients
- Claimant Group in the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation
- Claimant Group in the Mirror Newspapers Hacking Litigation
- Schillings
- Hamlins LLP
- Hogan Lovells
- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
- Minter Ellison
- Taylor Wessing
- Anthony Gold
- Campbells LLP
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Work highlights
- Advised claimants represented by Thomson Heath (MNHL) and Hamlins LLP (MTVIL) on a novel and ground-breaking template of costs budgeting, costs recovery by detailed assessment, and mediation and expert costs advice (including in relation to ATE insurance) in contentious phone hacking litigation.
- Advised Hogan Lovells in substantial bill of costs (approximately £50m+ but requiring the analysis of legal fees of over £75m) currently in preparation. Underlying proceedings concerned high profile litigation arising from the defendants' breaches of duty to its former client, a natural resources group with extensive mining operations, resulting in substantial loss and damage, which is still to be quantified.
- Instructed by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in a high value, commercial litigation dealing with multi-jurisdictional issues, including a Freezing Order in France, as a result of the banking crisis in Lebanon. Masters assisted with preparation of a substantial Bill of Costs (£3m+), as well as preparation of evidence in the French proceedings, and assisted with service of the Bill of Costs under a Notice of Commencement on the Defendant banks.
Lawyers
Leading Individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Philip Daval-Bowden, David Platnauer, Nico Myburgh, Natalie Swales