Costs Manager

Senior Costs Manager

London | Hybrid Working | Competitive Salary + Excellent Benefits

HarKaye Core Talent is exclusively supporting a leading UK law firm in the appointment of an experienced Senior Costs Manager to join its growing Costs function.

This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced Costs Lawyer or senior costs professional looking to play a key role in shaping the direction of a high-performing department. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the firm, you will provide expert costs advice on complex, high-value litigation while leading and developing a talented team.

This role offers genuine influence, exposure to significant commercial disputes, and the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and profile of an established Costs practice.

The Opportunity

As Senior Costs Manager, you will:

• Lead the delivery of specialist costs support across multiple high-value litigation teams.
• Advise partners and fee earners on costs strategy, litigation funding and recoverability.
• Prepare and oversee costs budgets, estimates and costs management throughout the lifecycle of complex matters.
• Provide strategic guidance on detailed assessment, inter partes costs and solicitor/client costs issues.
• Manage and develop a team of Costs Lawyers, Costs Draftsmen and Costs Paralegals, ensuring high-quality service delivery and achievement of departmental objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement through the development of best practice guidance, templates and internal resources.
• Deliver training across the firm to enhance costs awareness and technical capability.
• Support business planning, reporting and departmental performance alongside senior leadership.
• Represent the firm externally through networking events, conferences, seminars and industry engagement.
• Contribute to thought leadership through technical articles, publications and market insight.

About You

We're keen to speak with experienced professionals who can demonstrate:

• Qualification as a Costs Lawyer or significant senior experience within a legal costs environment.
• Strong technical expertise across costs budgeting, costs management and detailed assessment.
• Experience advising on complex commercial litigation matters, including High Court litigation, arbitration, competition litigation or group actions.
• Proven leadership experience with responsibility for mentoring, developing or managing a team.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to provide pragmatic, solutions-focused advice.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with confidence working alongside Partners and senior business leaders.
• A collaborative approach with a passion for developing people and driving excellence.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a highly regarded legal practice where the Costs function is recognised as a genuine strategic partner to the wider business. You'll have the autonomy to influence how the department evolves while working on some of the firm's most complex and high-profile matters.

Alongside a competitive salary, the successful candidate will benefit from hybrid working, excellent career progression opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package.

For a confidential discussion or to find out more, please contact Jaye Haynes at HarKaye Core Talent.