Wigg & Co - Expert Hourly Rates and Pilot
The average hourly fee rate charged in civil cases (all professions) has increased in 2010 from £166.00 to £187.00 per hour.
The table of hourly charging rates for the different disciplines is shown below.
| Civil Rate (£) | Accountancy | Property & Construction | Engineering | Financial Services | Healthcare | All Sectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 232(217) | 143(147) | 129(127) | 238(199) | 193(185) | 187(166) |
| Max | 650 | 300 | 250 | 325 | 380 | 650 |
| Min | 80 | 48 | 50 | 150 | 100 | 48 |
| Family Rate (£) | Accountancy | Property & Construction | Engineering | Financial Services | Healthcare | All Sectors |
| Hourly | 225(206) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 172(168) | 200(171) |
| Max | 650 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 360 | 650 |
| Min | 100 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100 | 52 |
| Criminal Rate (£) | Accountancy | Property & Construction | Engineering | Financial Services | Healthcare | All Sectors |
| Hourly | 178(152) | 129(132) | 118(128) | 136(150) | 173(168) | 158(145 |
| Max | 350 | 200 | 250 | 200 | 360 | 360 |
| Min | 80 | 48 | 60 | 150 | 100 | 48 |
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Jackson's Review concerning expert evidence
The review considered amongst other things whether changes in process and/or procedure could bring about more proportionate costs for access to justice.
This is the biggest review of civil costs since Lord Woolf's enquiry 10 years ago which in the main did not cut costs but did cut delays. Are we likely to follow the practice developed in Australia of hearing evidence concurrently from experts in any particular discipline? The practice (concurrent evidence) known colloquially as "hot tubbing" started in the Competition Tribunal and the practice was subsequently adopted in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
At a trial the experts of the same discipline are sworn in at the same time and the Judge sets the agenda and chairs a discussion between the experts who may question each other.
Counsel is allowed to cross examine the participants. Sir Rupert has concluded that it is worth a pilot being carried out using the system between consenting parties. If the scheme were to be adopted there would need an amendment to the CPRs to incorporate the procedure and draft guidelines.
[Please note our new telephone number:]
Tel: +44 (0)1892 529518
Email: vw@wigg.co.uk
Web Site: www.wigg.co.uk
Address:
Head Office
22 Ashdown Close
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN4 8DU