DOMINIC DONOGHUE
Background
Dominic began his career in October 1999 in what was then one of the largest costing firms in the country. He trained in all types of cases, including criminal, and completed the ALCD training course becoming an Associate member of the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen in 2004. In May 2005, Dominic took up employment in a niche costs practice based in Tunbridge Wells and gained more experience, particularly in criminal costs. Dominic became a Fellow member of the ALCD in 2006 and in 2008 he became a Costs Lawyer. In September 2010, Dominic began working in the commercial department of one of the top legal costs firms in the City of London. Dominic decided to use the experience he gained and start his own company in May 2016 and prides himself on providing a high quality service. Dominic has acted for a range of solicitor clients from small intimate high street firms to large international commercial practices to both oppose and justify the costs claimed.
Experience
Dominic’s experience has been varied during his 23 years in costs. He has dealt with many civil cases although he has particular interest in the specialist area of criminal costs. He has been engaged in all aspects of civil costs work one would expect of a costs lawyer which includes all stages of the detailed assessment process and also pre-assessment work including preparation of complex costs budgets and substantial statements of costs in support of a variety of applications. He has also conducted many detailed assessment hearings and criminal appeal hearings before the Senior Courts Costs Office.
Civil Costs
Dominic has had conduct of detailed assessments in many civil cases in the County Court, Senior Court Costs Office, and the General Court of the European Communities. His civil cases encompass complex and heavyweight international commercial litigation, high value clinical negligence claims, defamation, matrimonial cases, judicial reviews, aviation disputes, maritime cases, matters involving the police and probate disputes. The bills of costs Dominic has prepared include costs claims in excess of £1million.
Criminal Costs
The criminal cases Dominic has dealt with include extradition, contempt, high profile multiple murders, international complex high value frauds and intellectual property infringement where the claims are both publicly and privately funded. Dominic is very experienced in maximising costs recovery for private prosecutors and for privately funded defendants from central funds. He also has experience of recovering costs pursuant to orders made under s.19 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. Dominic has a good working relationship with the Criminal Cases Unit who determine criminal costs claims and he has attended before Costs Judges on appeal and was instructed in an appeal for general public importance before the High Court. Dominic has also acted as a single joint expert in a costs dispute arising from criminal proceedings. Dominic is a current member of the General Committee of the Private Prosecutors’ Association.
Interests
Dominic likes watching and playing football, enjoys a round of golf and cycles as much as possible.