About us

CostsMaster leads the way in providing the best legal costs drafting software products for costs lawyers and solicitors.

CostsMaster was developed by draftsmen who were seeking a more accurate, efficient and reliable method of preparing bills of costs. It has evolved over the last 20 years into the market leader, not only for bill and budget preparation and more recently to include the electronic bill but also for Legal Aid claims and case plans.

meet the team

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Alison

With a background as a fee earner in general litigation and family, Alison developed an interest in costs which led to her training to be a costs draftsman in 1995. She has been a costs lawyer since 2010. As a draftsman using CostsMaster since 2001 she has seen it evolve and has prepared every type of bill, claim or form available.  Joining CostsMaster full time in 2016, Alison’s role covers testing, support, training and sales.

Mary

Mary spent over 30 years in the costs industry during which time she was the Managing Partner at Harmans.  In 2000, the then Partners at Harmans, along with Richard Benn identified a clear gap in the market for software to take costing from a pen and paper exercise into the 21st Century.  From this simple idea the program has developed and is now the choice of software for many in the legal costs industry.  Mary retired as a Costs Lawyer in 2018 but continues to be involved with CostsMaster in a managerial and financial capacity.

Richard

Starting in Civil Litigation with an increasing focus on costs law, Richard later became a costs draftsman and started writing a small program to help reduce errors and inconsistency in his bills. Soon, colleagues were clamouring to use it and before long CostsMaster, the company, was created, so that other costs draftsmen could use it as well. Richard is currently part of the team responsible for developing the program.

Phil

From a background in Computer Programming, Phil became a Costs Draftsman in 2000. Initially creating his own solutions to help with his calculations, he was enthusiastic in adopting CostsMaster when it became available and supported his colleagues when they followed suit. He joined CostsMaster at the end of 2013, where his role covers support and testing.

Charlie

Charlie wrote his first functioning computer program in 1978! He became a professional developer in 1988, working for a blue-chip software house in Birmingham. Over the years he has worked in many industries and in several computer languages. In 2009 Charlie became a freelance consultant and worked for a company who specialised in software to assist completing the complex forms required for submission to the courts during family law proceedings. He moved back into formal employment in 2019, joining CostsMaster in the summer of 2023 making him the newest member of the team.

Sarah

Sarah began working in legal costs in 2010 at a national law firm, qualifying as a Costs Lawyer in 2014.  Sarah started working with CostsMaster in 2021, on a consultancy basis, whereby she assists with technical support and testing.  Sarah is also a self-employed Costs Lawyer and has a background in both claimant and defendant work.

Nicky

Nicky has been involved with book keeping and management accounts all of her working life.  Nicky has been with CostsMaster from the outset and is an integral and indispensable part of the back office team dealing with all accounts issues and with sales

Carol

When CostsMaster changed its licensing to dongles, Carol became involved to assist with the programming and distribution of the USB sticks. As the licensing has evolved to software product keys, so has the role, which now involves administering keys by email and setting up the online licences.

Vikki

Vikki’s experience in legal marketing and communications led her to a freelance role with CostsMaster in 2014. Vikki looks after all areas of the company’s marketing activities including social media, digital marketing, advertising, event organisation, copywriting and print and production management.