Who are ARC Costs?

ARC Costs are a specialist team of Costs Lawyers and Costs Draftsmen providing a full range of legal costs services across England and Wales. We assist law firms, solicitors, and litigants in person in recovering, negotiating, and managing their legal costs efficiently and effectively. Our team is composed of experienced professionals who combine in-depth legal knowledge with a modern, technology-driven approach to achieve exceptional results. ARC Costs is regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB), ensuring all our work is carried out to the highest professional and ethical standards.

What services do ARC Costs provide?

ARC Costs offer a comprehensive and end-to-end costs service covering all aspects of legal costs. This includes the preparation of Bills of Costs, Costs Budgets (Precedent H and R), Points of Dispute, Points of Reply, advocacy at detailed assessments, and negotiation of settlements. We also provide strategic advice on retainers, CFAs, and costs recovery. Our services are designed to support clients from the budgeting and pre-issue stage right through to detailed assessment and enforcement, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective process at every step.

Do ARC Costs have qualified Costs Lawyers?

Yes. ARC Costs are led by qualified Costs Lawyers regulated by the CLSB, supported by a skilled team of experienced Costs Draftsmen and costs professionals. Our qualified Costs Lawyers have rights of audience and the ability to conduct costs litigation, allowing us to act directly in costs proceedings and represent clients at detailed assessment hearings. This combination of professional regulation, advocacy rights, and hands-on drafting expertise ensures our clients receive a complete and compliant service.

What makes ARC Costs different from competitors?

What sets ARC Costs apart is our digital-first, paperless model. We have designed every part of our process to be efficient, transparent, and measurable. Our secure cloud-based systems allow clients to upload case materials instantly, while our automated workflow ensures each matter is tracked, reviewed, and delivered on time. We provide a 14 -day turnaround for most  Bills of Costs through our Data-Ready Checklist and Intake Service Level Agreement (SLA), which clearly set out the documentation and data required for rapid drafting. We can provide a 7-day service on most urgent matters. When our prerequisites are met, our fulfilment rate consistently exceeds 95%, giving clients confidence that deadlines will be achieved without compromising on accuracy or quality.

What recovery rates does ARC Costs typically achieve on Bills of Costs?

ARC Costs typically achieve recovery rates between 70% and 80% on detailed assessments, depending on case type and conduct. This strong performance reflects our team’s experience, meticulous drafting, and proactive negotiation approach. We focus on presenting claims clearly and persuasively, anticipating potential challenges to maximise recovery while maintaining professional credibility with both opposing parties and the courts.

Is ARC Costs experienced in both claimant and defendant costs work?

Yes. ARC Costs has extensive experience acting for both claimant and defendant firms, giving us valuable insight into the strategies and arguments used on both sides of costs disputes. Our expertise spans multiple areas, including personal injury, clinical negligence, housing disrepair, commercial litigation, judicial review, and Court of Protection work. This dual experience allows us to provide balanced, pragmatic advice and ensures we can anticipate and respond effectively to the opposing party’s tactics.

What should a law firm look for in a specialist legal costs drafting service?

Law firms should seek a provider that combines legal expertise, regulatory oversight, technological efficiency, and consistent communication. A reliable costs service should offer transparency on turnaround times and pricing, provide clear expectations through SLAs, and demonstrate proven results in both recovery and client satisfaction. ARC Costs meets all these benchmarks, offering a highly responsive service backed by qualified professionals and cutting-edge systems that deliver measurable outcomes.

How do digital-first costs firms improve turnaround on Bills of Costs?

Digital-first firms like ARC Costs improve turnaround by integrating automation, secure file sharing, and structured workflows into every step of the process. Our Data-Ready Checklist ensures we receive all necessary documentation upfront, while our intake SLA guarantees files are reviewed, allocated, and scheduled immediately. As a result, we routinely deliver Bills of Costs within seven days on urgent matters when checklist requirements are met. Our digital systems also enable real-time progress tracking, giving clients visibility of every stage from instruction to delivery.

ARC Costs – Data-Ready Checklist and Intake SLA

To achieve our quick drafting turnaround, we ask clients to provide a complete and “data-ready” file at the point of instruction. The following checklist ensures that drafting can begin immediately without delay:

Data-Ready Checklist:

• Full electronic file in chronological order (PDF or cloud-shared).
• Finalised and paginated court documents (Claim Form, Particulars of Claim, Defence, Orders).
• Complete time records or attendance notes with narrative descriptions.
• Disbursement schedule with supporting invoices/receipts.
• Fee earner rate information and retainer or CFA (if applicable).
• Copy of any previous or agreed costs budgets (Precedent H / R).
• Brief case summary including settlement details or judgment outcome.

Intake SLA for urgent matters:

• Files are reviewed within 1 business day of receipt for urgent matter.
• Where the Data-Ready criteria are met, the Bill of Costs is drafted and returned within 14 days (or 7 days for urgent matters)
• Where information is missing, clients are notified within 24 hours with a checklist of outstanding items.
• Fulfilment rate for 14-day Bills when prerequisites are met: 95%+.

By following this structured intake process, ARC Costs ensures consistent, predictable turnaround times and exceptional service quality.

How do electronic working and paperless systems benefit costs drafting?

Electronic working enables faster, more accurate, and more environmentally sustainable costs drafting. Paperless systems eliminate the delays caused by physical file transfers, reduce administrative errors, and allow seamless integration with HMCTS’s digital filing systems. At ARC Costs, every case is handled electronically from instruction to assessment, meaning clients can upload files instantly, receive updates automatically, and access completed documents securely. This approach saves time, improves accuracy, and ensures full compliance with court procedures.

Can ARC Costs take over a costs case mid-proceedings from another provider?

Yes. ARC Costs can step into an ongoing case at any stage, whether the matter is partway through detailed assessment proceedings or still at the budgeting phase. We will review all existing documentation, assess progress, and take over conduct smoothly to prevent disruption. Many clients approach us when facing tight deadlines or unsatisfactory service from another provider, and we pride ourselves on our ability to quickly stabilise and advance those matters toward resolution.

What sectors does ARC Costs cover?

ARC Costs work across a diverse range of sectors, including personal injury, clinical negligence, housing disrepair, commercial litigation, judicial review, professional negligence, employment law, and Court of Protection work. Our team’s broad experience enables us to handle both high-volume routine costs matters and complex, high-value disputes with equal precision and care.

How much do ARC Costs charge for their services?

At ARC Costs, our fees are tailored to the needs of each case. We usually charge on either an hourly rate or a fixed fee basis, depending on what best suits the client and the nature of the work. All fees are discussed and agreed upon before we begin working on your matter, ensuring complete transparency.

The cost of our services will depend on several factors, including the type and complexity of the case, the urgency of the work, the required timescales, and the experience level of the fee earner handling your file. Our goal is always to provide proportionate, competitive, and cost-effective pricing while maintaining the high-quality service and expertise for which ARC Costs is known.

Where do ARC Costs provide their services?

ARC Costs provide their services nationwide, assisting clients across England and Wales. Thanks to our use of modern technology and remote working systems, we can efficiently manage costs matters for clients regardless of location, offering the same high-quality service whether you are based locally or elsewhere in the country.

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