Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): legal cost framework
Updated 23 April 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/horizon-convictions-redress-scheme-hcrs-legal-cost-framework/horizon-convictions-redress-scheme-hcrs-legal-cost-framework
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will pay the reasonable legal costs of individuals applying for financial redress under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS), in line with the conditions set out in this framework. This framework explains:
- the costs that DBT will pay to legal representatives per eligible application
- the legal costs DBT will pay depending on the type of application and agreed settlement value
Instructing a legal representative: guidance for applicants
The legal representatives listed in Annex A have agreed to work within the terms of this cost framework. They have committed not to make any deductions from the financial redress settlement you will receive.
DBT will pay your legal representative directly for any reasonable legal costs incurred in line with this framework.
If you would prefer to instruct a legal firm that is not listed in Annex A, DBT strongly advises that you confirm that they will operate within the terms of the costs framework before instructing them. If you instruct a legal firm who is unwilling or unable to work within our cost framework, they may charge you directly.
We strongly advise you to instruct a legal representative who is directly regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Law Society of Scotland or the Law Society of Northern Ireland. This is the baseline requirement for any representative to have their legal costs paid by DBT. If you instruct a representative who is not directly regulated, we will be unable to cover any of their fees and you will be responsible for paying all their costs yourself.
Guidance for legal representatives on applying to join the costs framework
We have calculated the costs in the framework based on existing redress schemes and after discussions with a range of legal representatives who have represented postmasters applying to those schemes. All costs in this framework exclude VAT.
Representatives wishing to join the framework and have their names added to Annex A may do so by sending their details to horizonconvictionsredress@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
By agreeing to join the framework, the firm commits to not to deduct any of their fees from their client’s financial redress settlement or charge any legal costs to your client, whether current or future. Whoever contacts DBT must have the appropriate authority within the firm to make this commitment before signing up to the framework.
The only firms (including sole practitioners) that can join the framework are those regulated by the:
- SRA
- Law Society of Scotland
- Law Society of Northern Ireland
Firms that are unable or who do not wish to join the framework must ensure that clients applying to the scheme understand any impact this may have on them. This includes explaining any liability for fees. This is in line with your professional obligation to be transparent about legal fees.
Annex C sets out the position for firms not on the framework, including:
- requiring client agreement to proceed
- billing requirements
- how legal costs will be assessed
Costs framework
The amount of claimable legal costs and additional claimable legal costs that apply in each case or financial redress is dependent on which band is applicable:
- Band 1: applicant applies for the £600,000 fixed sum
- Band 2: agreed settlement is more than £600,000 and less than £1 million
- Band 3: agreed settlement is more than £1 million and less than £1.75 million
- Band 4: agreed settlement is more than £1.75 million and less than £2.5 million
- Band 5: agreed settlement is above £2.5 million
Band 1: applicant applies for the £600,000 redress fixed sum
Where the applicant applies for the £600,000 fixed sum, claimable legal costs are £30,000. Additional claimable legal costs are also detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £30,000 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
| Costs in relation to specialist tax advice for foreign residents. A copy of the invoice is required to substantiate these costs. |
up to £4,000 |
Band 2: agreed settlement is more than £600,000 and less than £1 million
Where an agreed financial redress settlement on a detailed assessment application is more than £600,000 and less than £1 million, claimable legal costs are £60,000. Additional claimable legal costs are also detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £60,000 |
| Expert reports: accountancy | up to £14,000 |
| Expert reports: other (for example, medical) | up to £4,284 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an IVA A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
Band 3: agreed settlement is more than £1 million and less than £1.75 million
Where an agreed financial redress settlement on a detailed assessment application is more than £1 million and less than £1.75 million, claimable legal costs are £75,000. Additional claimable legal costs are also detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £75,000 |
| Expert reports: accountancy | up to £14,000 |
| Expert reports: other (for example, medical) | up to £4,284 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an IVA A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
| Costs of consulting counsel | to £7,500 |
Band 4: agreed settlement is more than £1.75 million and less than £2.5 million
Where an agreed financial redress settlement on a detailed assessment application is more than £1.75 million and less than £2.5 million, claimable legal costs are £100,000. Additional claimable legal costs are also detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £100,000 |
| Expert reports: accountancy | up to £14,000 |
| Expert reports: other (for example, medical) | up to £4,284 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an IVA A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
| Costs of consulting counsel | up to £10,000 |
Band 5: agreed settlement is above £2.5 million
Where an agreed financial redress settlement on a detailed assessment application is more than £2.5 million, claimable legal costs are £100,000 plus the ability to submit a case for costs above £100,000. Additional claimable legal costs are also detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £100,000 (plus the ability to submit a case for costs above £100,000) |
| Expert reports: accountancy | up to £14,000 |
| Expert reports: other (for example, medical) | up to £4,284 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an IVA A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
| Costs of consulting counsel | Counsel’s fees, as reasonably incurred |
Final settlement is less than £600,000
If an applicant decides to request a detailed assessment and the final settlement is less than £600,000 (less than if they had been advised to take the fixed sum settlement), the claimable legal costs of the appointed solicitor are detailed in the following table.
| Costs that can be claimed | Amount |
|---|---|
| Claimable legal costs | £30,000 |
| Expert reports: accountancy | up to £14,000 |
| Expert reports: other (for example, medical) | up to £4,284 |
| Costs in relation to annulment of bankruptcy or advising client on an IVA A copy of the annulment application should be provided to substantiate these costs. If a hearing has taken place, you could alternatively provide the annulment order. For IVAs, we ask you to confirm you have provided advice and your client understands the position. |
up to £4,000 |
Legal costs over £100,000
If the solicitor applies for reimbursement of costs over £100,000, we are committed to reviewing and settling these additional costs as quickly as possible.
In the event of dispute between DBT and the relevant solicitor, the dispute will be referred to the independent panel set up as part of DBT’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process under the HCRS.
Commissioning experts
If the costs of expert reports are not higher than the maximum amount stated in the framework, the solicitor can commission a first medical report and forensic accountancy report without needing prior approval from DBT.
If you or your solicitor would like to commission further expert advice, your solicitor must seek prior approval from DBT before incurring these additional costs. See Annex B for the process for support of costs for expert evidence.
Fees for consulting counsel
For Bands 3 and 4, DBT will only pay costs up to the counsel fee cap detailed for that band.
Payments for Bands 3 and 4 will be claimable following DBT’s first settlement offer. Top-up payments will be available should the claim move up the banding following settlement negotiations.
For Band 5, counsel fees are paid as reasonably incurred and will be assessed before payment. You are strongly encouraged to agree the total anticipated fees with DBT before instructing counsel.
Timing of payments
For Band 1, the applicable legal costs will be paid to the applicant’s solicitor within 14 days of the applicant receiving their financial redress.
For Bands 2 to 5, the costs will be paid to the solicitor in 4 instalments, each triggered by the following.
| Trigger event | Instalment payments per case |
|---|---|
| Eligibility confirmed and applicant paid preliminary payment | £10,000 |
| DBT receives confirmation of decision that applicant is taking the fully assessed route | £10,000 |
| Receipt by DBT of complete claim form | £10,000 |
| Receipt by DBT of applicant’s agreement to award | Top up to agreed band level in line with framework above |
At the end of each month, each solicitor should submit a schedule setting out:
- the additional claimable costs for that month
- all relevant invoices for that month
We will aim to pay solicitors these costs within 28 days of receiving the schedules, once DBT has validated that the costs are claimable under the framework and are as agreed.
For an expert or counsel, we will pay the agreed disbursement fee or fee note within 28 days of receiving the invoice. Payment is subject to confirmation that the cost:
- falls within the relevant assessment route for fixed sum or fully assessed cases
- meets the relevant banding requirements (where applicable)
This payment will include any applicable VAT.
Annex A: firms who have agreed our costs framework
The firms listed in this annex have agreed to work within the terms of this framework. Their inclusion does not indicate government endorsement. Applicants should carry out their own checks before choosing a legal representative.
| Firm | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Acumen Law | ben.rose@acumenlaw.co.uk | Benjamin Rose |
| Aramm Legal Ltd | prathap@arammlegal.com | Prathap Giri Appavu |
| Ash Clifford Ltd | iparker@ashclifford.co.uk | Ian Parker |
| Ben Hoare Bell LLP | andrewfreckleton@benhoarebell.co.uk | Andrew Freckleton |
| Bhatia Best Solicitors | joseph.rahm@bhatiabest.co.uk | Joseph Rahm |
| Bond Turner Ltd | smoss@bondturner.com | Samantha Moss and Alan Sellers |
| Burridge and Pluck Solicitors Ltd | npluck@burridgepluck.co.uk | Nicola Pluck |
| Cannons Law Practice LLP | admin@cannonslaw.com | Nicola Cannon |
| Clarke Kiernan LLP Solicitors | civil@clarkekiernan.com | John Moreland |
| Digby Brown LLP | gordon.dalyell@digbybrown.co.uk | Gordon Dalyell |
| Freeths LLP | OverTurnedConvictionTeam@freeths.co.uk | James Hartley and Jade Flint |
| Gibson & Co Solicitors Limited | claire.aston@gibsons-law.com | Claire Aston |
| Hodge Jones and Allen Solicitors | postofficeclaims@hja.net | Cormac McDonough, Susie Labinjoh and Sasha Barton |
| Hodgkinsons Solicitors | LWilkinson@hodgkinsons.co.uk | Lisa Wilkinson |
| Hopkins Solicitors Ltd | cwright@hopkins-solicitors.co.uk | Carl Wright |
| Howe + Co Solicitors | help@howe.co.uk | David Enright |
| HSBS LAW | balwant@hsbslaw.com | Balwant Singh |
| Hudgell Solicitors | nmh@hudgellsolicitors.co.uk | Neil Hudgell |
| Immisol Solicitors | ahmad@immisol.co.uk and sophia@immisol.co.uk | Sophia Ava |
| Jordans Solicitors LLP | mark@jordansllp.com | Mark Newby |
| KRW LAW Advocates Ltd | office@kevinrwinters.com | Victoria Trainor |
| Lewis Rodgers | stephen@lewisrodgers.co.uk | Stephen Rodgers |
| Livingstone Brown | pct@livbrown.co.uk | Elizabeth McAlpine |
| Madden & Finucane Solicitors | lynnday@madden-finucane.com | Lynn Day |
| Middleton Law Ltd | neil.fearn@middletonlawltd.co.uk | Neil Fearn |
| Murria Solicitors | gkang@murria.co.uk | Galwinder Singh Kang |
| Nantes Solicitors Limited | cherise.lukebennett@nantes.co.uk | Cherise Luke-Bennett |
| O’Rorke McDonald & Tweed | gr@omt-larne.com | Liam McKendry |
| Pepperells Solicitors | Simon@pepperells.com | Simon Davies |
| Schofield Sweeney | stephenlewis@schofieldsweeney.co.uk | Stephen Lewis |
| SCM Law | david@scmlaw.co.uk | David Sedgwick |
| Shan & Co Solicitors | k.shan@hotmail.co.uk | Kanapathipillai Shanmugarajah |
| Simons Muirhead Burton | Stephen.Shotnes@smb.london | Stephen Shotnes |
Annex B: process for support of costs for expert evidence
If the solicitor wishes to use expert evidence above the threshold of one medical report and one forensic accountancy report, they should send an email to horizonconvictionsredress@businessandtrade.gov.uk setting out the following:
- case name and reference number
- a brief explanation of reasons as to why expert evidence is reasonably required
- a cost estimate for the proposed expert evidence and whether it is proportionate and justified by reference to the value of a relevant head of loss
- the field in which expert evidence is required
- issues which expert evidence will address
- where practicable, the name of the proposed expert and details of their qualifications
We will respond to these proposals within 15 working days.
Annex C: process for firms outside the cost framework
The option to submit a claim for reasonable legal costs remains open to firms that do not wish or who are unable to join the framework. However, different billing requirements will apply, and the benefits of the framework will not be available.
DBT will only pay legal costs to firms or entities that meet the same eligibility criteria as those on the framework. This means they must be directly regulated by an approved legal regulatory body in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Entities that are not directly regulated but employ solicitors who are may still be eligible if they can guarantee that:
- claimants will have direct access to those solicitors
- the solicitors will be responsible for providing legal advice
This includes, for example, direct access barristers and law centres.
DBT will not pay legal costs to representatives who are not directly regulated.
The process for firms outside the cost framework includes the following principles:
- we will not make any payment to a solicitor operating outside the framework before their claimant’s HCRS claim is settled
- we will require a full bill of costs to be submitted
- the bill of costs must demonstrate the work undertaken, time taken and the grade of fee earner who undertook the work
- the submitted bill of costs will be subject to an assessment of reasonableness – the reasonable hourly rate to be claimed should not exceed the published guideline hourly rates for your geographical location, and we will not pay a higher hourly rate than this
- we will not pay any costs that exceed the relevant bands or agreed rates for disbursements in the legal costs framework. We may pay less depending on what is reasonable in the circumstances of the individual claim upon consideration of your bill. There is no financial advantage in not signing up to the framework
- we will not make any commitment on turnaround time for reviewing the bill of costs and payment of fees – the interim payments on account of legal costs available under the framework will not apply
- if we pay for your fees to any degree, it should be uncontroversial that you must not charge your client for the same costs
Committing to the legal cost framework provides clear benefits for firms. It offers a fixed payment structure, removing the need for detailed billing. Firms can receive instalment payments at key trigger points. Payment is made within 14 days for Band 1 claims and 28 days for Bands 2 to 5.