At Kings Chambers, the costs team has a pre-eminent reputation for its excellent track record in handling a wide spectrum of complex costs disputes. In one high-profile case, Kevin Latham, Craig Ralph and Fraser Barnstaple appeared before the Court of Appeal in Smithstone v Tranmoor Primary School, which addressed the issue as to whether an order approving a settlement for damages to be paid to a minor amounted to a “judgment” for the purpose of Part 36 costs. In a separate matter, John Meehan successfully represented the respondent in a Court of Appeal case arising from a housing disrepair claim, where the solicitor had signed the certificate but the mandatory certificate to confirm compliance with the indemnity principle was not completed - the court ruled that detailed assessment proceedings could still be effectively commenced even where the bill of costs is defective, and a solicitor’s signature on a bill confirms compliance with the indemnity principle, even where the mandatory certificate is not fully completed.