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Paul Joseph

Year of Call: 2005
Solicitor: 1992
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01962 868884/0121 289 4333

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Clerks Details

Costs

Paul Joseph is rated as the best costs specialist barrister in the Midlands and one of the UK's top counsel in this specialist field. He is recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a top costs specialist. In August 2021, he was appointed a Deputy Costs Judge of the Senior Courts Costs Office in London. Paul is one of the senior members of 3PB's dedicated Costs Team.

He works extensively for HM Government and, currently listed on the Attorney General’s Regional B panel, is regularly instructed by the GLD’s costs team on a wide variety of costs matters.

Paul dealt with, for example, all the costs work in connection with claims made by Iraqi civilians against the MoD arising out of the invasion of Iraq in 2003; and similarly in relation to the MoD's actions in Afghanistan and during the Kenyan Emergency.

More recently, Paul acted in Robin Makin-v-Ministry of Justice in which Paul obtained an Extended Civil Restraint Order and the removal of a solicitor advocate's anonymity as well as over 20 individual costs orders (of which nearly half were indemnity orders) and 10 declarations of totally without merit.

Paul undertakes all types of costs work - across all areas of law except criminal cases - such as:

  • Case and Costs Management Conferences
  • Allocation Hearings (and now assignment issues)
  • Wasted Costs Applications
  • Security for Costs Applications
  • Oral reviews of Provisional Assessments
  • Detailed Assessment hearings (whether in the SCCO or anywhere else)
  • Drafting Points of Dispute and Replies
  • Part 36 issues
  • Appeals relating to costs matters, including appeals to the Court of Appeal

Reported Cases

R (on the application of Jerry Isah) -v- The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 268: the extent and scope of summary assessment of costs.

Robin Makin-v-Ministry of Justice [2023] EWHC 72 (KB): defending 4 applications for permission to appeal within detailed assessment proceedings, all of which were dismissed and declared to be totally without merit.

Robin Makin-v-Ministry of Justice [2023] EWHC 1920 (KB): application to remove the anonymity granted to a solicitor advocate whom the MOJ wished to report to the SRA for serious misconduct.

R (Jawad Faqiri) -v- Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 151

AL (Albania) -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 1183: whether or not the Secretary of State had delayed unreasonably.

R (Gudanaviciene) -v- Immigration and Asylum First Tier Tribunal [2017] EWCA Civ 352: Circumstances in which the court will make an order for costs against a Tribunal or inferior court.

Rohan Ghising –v- Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWHC 3706 (QB): Appeal concerning the recoverability of a retrospective success fee.

Assaubayevs –v- Michael Wilson and Partners Limited [2014] EWHC 821 (QB) and [2014] EWCA Civ 1491: Extent of the court’s supervisory jurisdiction over bodies which pretend to be recognised legal bodies.

J E Jamaica –v- Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWCA Civ 192: Operation of CPR Part 52.9A.

G (a child by her mother and litigation friend, M) –v- Kingston upon Hull City Council (Lawtel 01/10/13): applicability of SCCO guidelines on summary assessment to detailed assessments.

Rangos –v- Secretary of State for Innovation [2012] EWHC 3186 (Ch): dismissal of an appeal against Costs Master’s decision to award costs against a receiving party notwithstanding that it beat an offer under CPR Part 47.19.

Tibbles –v- SIG PLC (T/A Asphaltic Roofing Supplies) [2012] EWCA Civ 518: extent of the discretion to vary or revoke an order pursuant to CPR Part 3.1(7).

  • Recommendations

    Paul Joseph is a commercial practitioner who has a notable focus on the costs field. He has considerable experience of issues relating to pre-action protocols and the fixed-costs regime, and also handles appeals and detailed assessments. He regularly appears in cases in the SCCO and the Court of Appeal.

    Strengths: "Meticulous in his preparation, very measured in his advocacy style and always calm, he knows costs very well." "Paul Joseph is a very good technician who knows a lot about costs."

    Chambers UK 2025/ Costs Litigation/ Midlands

    "Paul Joseph is very capable and reliable. He is always on top of the detail and a good advocate." Chambers UK 2024/Costs Litigation/All Circuits

    ‘Paul is an experienced costs barrister who is audacious on his feet.’

    Legal 500 2025/Costs/Midlands - Ranked Tier 1

    ‘Paul is a very confident and knowledgeable barrister who gives an honest outlook on the matter with a very quick turnaround on drafting and advice.’ Legal 500 2024/Costs/Midlands

    “Paul Joseph is very experienced, always on top of the detail and well prepared.”  Chambers UK 2023/Costs Litigation/All Circuits

    “Paul is an exceptionally good advocate and has a great ability to cut through the fog and quickly identify the important issues in a case. He gives good advice, and his written work is always of a high standard.” Legal 500 2023/Costs/Midlands

    “A costs guru who revels in complicated cases.” “He is always happy to pick up the phone and give you some helpful advice.” Chambers UK 2022/Costs Litigation/All Circuits

    “In-depth knowledge of the practice area. Ability to give clear and concise straightforward opinions.” Legal 500 2022/Costs/Midlands

    “Paul is always very well prepared and knows a lot about the nuts and bolts of costs work.” Chambers UK 2021/Costs Litigation/All Circuits

    “A hugely experienced and wise costs barrister with strong technical knowledge.” Legal 500 2021/Costs/Midlands

    “Thorough and someone you can put a lot of confidence in. He goes beyond the call of duty in terms of dealing with each case.” Chambers UK 2020/Costs Litigation/All Circuits

    “He has a grasp of costs work that eludes most members of the Bar.” Legal 500 2020/Costs/Midlands

    "A barrister who understands the brief and fights like the case is his own. A commercial lawyer by background, Paul's client care skills are also highly developed. Good in conference and good in court. Highly recommended." Chris Heitzman, Shakespeare Martineau 

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