Costs management

I spent yesterday in court as the guest of HH Judge Simon Brown QC monitoring the continuing costs pilot in Birmingham. Two things for practitioners to note.Where expensive evidence is sought the Judge will ask if you have sought tenders from providers and,if not,why not? He is also ,rightly,keen to curb big spending on the preparation of witness statements.In case after case clear indications were given that the amount of time suggested for the process was unreasonable.
Before going up to Birmingham last thing on thursday night i went to the most elegant recital and reception hosted by Radcliffe Chambers.Shantanu Majumdar ,who kindly invited me,will be appearing in the april Lexis webinar on disclosure.His wisdom is magisterial and i recommend him to anyone with commercial/chancery disputes.