Abigail is a Solicitor specialising in costs litigation, with over 13 years’ experience managing complex, high-value costs disputes across a broad range of litigation, particularly clinical negligence, personal injury, professional negligence and property litigation. Having gained experience within both an in-house costs team and an external costs specialist firm, she brings a well-rounded understanding of costs management, recovery strategy and dispute resolution from both perspectives.

Her expertise spans costs recovery, detailed assessment proceedings, costs budgeting, litigation funding and proceedings before the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO). She regularly advises clients, partners and fellow legal professionals on costs strategy, litigation risk and commercially effective outcomes. Her technical experience includes preparing complex electronic bills of costs involving multiple splits to reflect changes in funding arrangements and legal representation, as well as accurately allocating common and defendant-specific costs in multi-defendant proceedings.

Abigail has achieved significant results in complex costs disputes, including negotiating a settlement exceeding £1.04 million, securing a reduction in a claimed 100% success fee to 25%, contributing to an overall 65% reduction at detailed assessment, and securing a settlement exceeding £400,000 in the successful defence of a substantial adverse costs claim. She has also achieved substantial costs recoveries in low-value clinical negligence claims, including recovering £18,500 in costs on a £2,000 damages claim. Her approach combines meticulous bill preparation with a strategic understanding of costs law, proportionality and paying party conduct. By clearly articulating the work undertaken, identifying relevant conduct issues and advancing persuasive arguments in support of costs recovery, she builds robust, well-evidenced bills designed to withstand scrutiny and maximise recoveries, even where the value of the underlying claim is modest.

Combining commercial awareness with the skills developed throughout her career, Abigail takes a strategic, results-driven approach to costs recovery and dispute resolution. She focuses on achieving commercially effective outcomes through robust presentation, persuasive advocacy and a clear understanding of the factors that influence costs recovery.