We also report on a Costs Lawyer reappointed to rule committee and progress at listed company’s costs firm
CLSB names new chief executive
The Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB) has appointed Paul Mosson as its new chief executive from 1 May.
He succeeds Kate Wellington, who left after five years in the role to become chief executive of the Law Society of Western Australia.
A law graduate, Mr Mosson has been executive director of member services and engagement at the Law Society of Scotland since 2017. His responsibilities include professional practice and ethics support, member services and development, and promoting the take up of technology in legal services.
He is also the secretary to the society’s insurance committee, which looks after its professional indemnity insurance arrangements, and leads its internal diversity and inclusion programme as well as representing the society on the Lawtech UK Regulatory Response Unit.
Before that, he spent nine years as director of services at the Bar Council of England and Wales, and also had a spell as a consultant specialising in leadership and strategy.
He is an advocate for neurodivergence, diversity and inclusion – recently become a freelance coach for ADHD Works, offering coaching and support to neurodivergent and neurotypical clients across the UK – and also an executive coach.
Mr Mosson said: “I am thrilled to join the CLSB as CEO and build on the enormous success and achievements of the board and executive team. These are both exciting and challenging times for legal regulation in England and Wales as we adapt to new opportunities and changes in the market. I am looking forward to starting my role and meeting members of the profession and stakeholders.”
David Heath, chair of the CLSB board, said: “I am delighted that Paul will be the next CEO of the CLSB. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, and I look forward to working with him over the years to come.”
Costs Lawyer reappointed to rule committee
Ian Curtis-Nye, who is believed to be the first Costs Lawyer to sit on the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC), has been reappointed for three years from 24 October 2025.
There is no designated place on the CPRC – the statutory body that governs the practice and procedure to be followed in the civil courts – for Costs Lawyers and Mr Curtis-Nye was appointed as one of two members to represent the interests of the lay advice sector and consumer affairs.
He is a partner/divisional manager at national firm Lyons Davidson, with overall responsibility for the civil litigation division and legal costs teams.
In addition, he is a trustee and chair at Citizens Advice Reading and has extensive experience in consumer affairs across both the legal and lay advice sector.
Partners in Costs “on stable footing”
Problems at costs firm Partners in Costs (PIC) have been addressed and it is now on a stable footing its listed parent company has told the London Stock Exchange.
Last September, Frenkel Topping reported that PIC had had “a particularly challenging period”, primarily due to “recruitment and technology implementation impacting their ability to handle increased workloads”.
In a trading update published last week, however, it said: “We have addressed the challenges faced within Partners in Costs during 2024 with strategic appointments and a focus on optimising key business processes creating a stable foundation for 2025.
“The board is confident that PIC can now handle the increased workload and it is pleasing to see PIC regaining momentum and an increasing demand for its services.”
The update said the group’s projected 2024 results were for a 14% increase in revenue to £37.4m and 4% rise in gross profit to £14.4m.