Newsletter – February 2026

Curiosity, consistency and the CLSB: why I put my hand up
Leigh White, Fellow Costs Lawyer and Head of Medical Negligence Costs Delivery at Irwin Mitchell

I’ve spent my career in Costs learning that the how matters as much as the what: the way we communicate with clients, the way we evidence decisions, the way we hold ourselves to consistent standards. As a Fellow Costs Lawyer and Head of Medical Negligence Costs Delivery, I’ve seen first hand how strong governance and practical tools help teams serve clients better, day in, day out. But above all, I’m passionate about people’s development, helping colleagues grow, supporting new talent, and championing the evolution of the Costs Lawyer role itself. That’s the perspective I’m bringing to the Costs Lawyer Standards Board.

Why the CLSB and why now?

Two things drew me in.

First, purpose. Regulation isn’t abstract. It’s the scaffolding that lets professionals do complex work with the public’s confidence. In my application I set out a simple aim: to contribute my operational and leadership experience to uphold high standards and strengthen trust in our profession, while also nurturing the next generation of Costs Lawyers.

Second, curiosity. My day job involves turning data, risk and practice standards into better outcomes: translating policy into the realities of files, teams and clients. The CLSB is a place to keep learning and apply that habit of practical improvement at sector level, and to help shape how our role develops in a changing legal landscape.

Getting started

I was appointed as a non lay Non Executive Director in late 2025, with my initial term commencing in January 2026, and I attended my first Board meeting in January. It’s been energising to join a Board that’s focused, well prepared and outcomes oriented.

From the outset, the welcome, from the executive and Board colleagues alike, has been warm and purposeful. A special thank you to Jacqui Connelly for the smooth induction and to Paul Mosson for inviting me (and Helen Moulinos) to introduce ourselves to the profession through this Spotlight.

What I hope to add

Pragmatic governance. My background is in building consistent, data led ways of working: turning strategy into delivery, linking KPIs to client experience, and using feedback loops to get better each quarter. On the Board, that translates to asking practical questions about risk, proportionality and impact, and then supporting the executive to execute.

A relentless focus on clients, colleagues, and development

Consistency protects clients and it helps practitioners. Whether you’re drafting a bill, advising on budgets or preparing for assessment, clear standards and well designed tools reduce friction and error. But it’s also about people: I’m energised by helping colleagues develop their skills and confidence, and by seeing the Costs Lawyer role grow in scope and recognition. That’s been a constant in my leadership roles and it’s a mindset I’ll keep bringing to CLSB discussions.

Career pathways and inclusion

Before joining the Board, I encouraged Costs Lawyers across different stages of their careers to contribute to CLSB’s research on routes into the profession. Practical visibility matters, especially for early career colleagues and those from under represented groups, and I’m keen we keep amplifying those voices. Supporting people’s development isn’t just a personal passion, it’s essential for the future of our profession.

Constructive advocacy for the profession. I care about how we show up beyond our “echo chambers”, how we communicate our value clearly and consistently, and how we keep strengthening public confidence in Costs Lawyers. That’s as much about tone and transparency as it is about policy.

Gratitude

I’m grateful to my colleagues at Irwin Mitchell, including my manager, Paula Walkden, and our National Head of Costs, Steven Green, for their encouragement and practical support. It makes balancing commitments possible and keeps me anchored in the realities of practice.

A note to fellow Costs Lawyers

If you’re curious about how the profession is shaped, and you enjoy turning principles into practice, get involved. Engage with consultations. Share your pathway. Consider applying for roles when they come up. The CLSB benefits from broad, thoughtful voices, and so do the clients we serve. Most of all, if you’re passionate about developing yourself and others, and about helping the Costs Lawyer role continue to evolve, there’s never been a better time to step forward.

Why I Joined the Cost Lawyers Standards Board as a Lay Non-Executive Director
Helen Moulinos, Lay Non-executive Director

I am genuinely delighted to be joining the Board of the Cost Lawyers Standards Board (CLSB) as a Lay Non-Executive Director. For me, this role sits at the intersection of something I care deeply about: public trust in professional standards through effective regulation. As most of your referrals as Costs lawyers occur between legal-to-legal networks and less commonly involve members of the public, In understand that public engagement can often be overlooked.

Regulators play a quiet but vital role in safeguarding the public interest. When they work well, most people never notice them. But when standards slip, confidence erodes quickly. Your expertise as Costs Lawyers can make a decisive difference in access to justice. Yet outside legal circles, your role is often poorly understood, and you remain the invisible heroes the public rarely sees.

I have witnessed firsthand why Cost Lawyers matter. Between 2023 and 2025, my close friend Janet found herself in a prolonged dispute with her insurance company over a claim and the contested cost of adequate legal support. She believed she was entitled to coverage that reflected her expenses to access useful and proportionate legal advice. The insurer disagreed and alleged that her claim under her policy was not valid because the costs of legal support she was claiming were too high and outside the norm. Months dragged on. The language was dense for her to decipher as she was not a solicitor or insurer, and she felt frustrated. The calculations the insurer offered as best practice norms were opaque. She felt overwhelmed and outmatched.

Someone suggested she speak to a Costs Lawyer. Until that point, she hadn’t known such a profession existed. She assumed legal costs were simply something solicitors “dealt with”. But the Costs Lawyer she consulted did something transformative. He unpacked the numbers. He explained how costs should be assessed, what was reasonable, what wasn’t, and where the insurer’s position appeared inconsistent with established principles. He reframed her case in terms of fairness, proportionality and evidence.

Armed with clear, structured advice, she took her complaint to the Ombudsman. The submission was stronger, sharper and grounded in expertise. It changed the tone of the dispute from emotional to principled. Ultimately, the outcome shifted in her favour. This Costs Lawyer gave her clarity. It was understanding how the costs law operates in practice and being able to challenge assumptions confidently.

That experience stayed with me. It highlighted two things.

• First, that specialist legal knowledge can be empowering. Access to the right expertise can level the playing field between individuals and large institutions.
• Second, many people don’t know about Costs Lawyers or when they might need them.

This is why I believe public engagement is so important in professional regulation. It isn’t simply about publishing annual reports or updating a website. It’s about making regulation visible, accessible and meaningful.

As a Lay Non-Executive Director, I bring an independent, public-focused perspective to the Board and 30 years of cross-sector experience as a former Banker and former charity CEO. I have served on Boards in the UK for over 20 years, following my immigration and relocation here from New York City. Lay roles are not about legal technicalities; they are about asking different questions than someone already in the profession. For example, how will this decision land with the Costs Lawyer community? Is our communication understandable? Are we transparent enough? Are we listening widely enough? Are we regulating for the future or the past? How do we know we are being effective?

I’m excited to support the CLSB in upholding high standards while also learning about the important role you as Costs Lawyers play. In a world where legal processes can feel remote and intimidating to people like my friend Janet, regulators have both the opportunity and the responsibility to bridge that gap. I hope more people like my friend Janet can benefit from a Costs Lawyer in the future. I look forward to contributing to a Board that not only sets standards but also champions clarity, openness and meaningful engagement with those it serves and protects, working in the profession, the wider legal community and the public too.

If you’d like to connect, you can find Helen and Leigh on LinkedIn
Helen
Leigh