Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): legal cost framework
Updated 30 April 2025
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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 government will pay the reasonable legal costs of individuals applying for financial redress under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).
This framework sets out the costs we will pay depending on the type of application.
We have calculated these costs based on existing redress schemes and after discussions with a range of legal firms who have represented postmasters applying to those schemes. All costs in this framework exclude VAT.
If you are an HCRS applicant, we strongly advise that you check that a solicitor is happy to operate within the terms of the costs framework before instructing them. If you hire a solicitor who does not commit to work within our costs framework, your solicitor could pursue you for some of their fees from your financial redress.
The firms listed in Annex A have already agreed to work within the terms of this costs framework. This means they have also committed not to make any deductions from the financial redress settlement you will receive.
The only firms and sole practitioners that can join the framework are those regulated by either:
- the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
- the Law Society of Scotland
- the Law Society of Northern Ireland
Guidance for legal firms on joining the costs framework
Firms wishing to make this commitment and have their names added to Annex A may do so by sending their details to horizonconvictionsredress@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Annex C sets out the implications for firms that do not join the framework, including billing requirements and how legal costs will be assessed. If your firm chooses not to join the framework, you must ensure your clients understand the impact this may have on their financial redress. This is in line with your professional obligation to be transparent about costs. We strongly encourage you to reconsider your position on the framework and commit to operating within it.
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 for redress 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 for redress applies for the £600,000 fixed sum
Where the applicant for redress 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 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 |
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 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 of consulting Counsel | Waiting for decision on whether fees are claimable |
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 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 of consulting Counsel | Waiting for decision on whether fees are claimable |
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 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 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 will be:
- a maximum of £30,000
- plus costs for any expert reports commissioned or costs related to the annulment of bankruptcy or advice on an IVA within the maximums set out in the framework above under Bands 2 and 4
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 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 us.
If you or your solicitor would like to commission further expert advice, your solicitor must seek prior approval from us before incurring these additional costs. See Annex B for the process for support of costs for expert evidence.
Fees for consulting counsel
We are still discussing whether the solicitor will be able to claim for fees for consulting counsel in Bands 3 and 4. We’ll update this page when we’ve reached a decision.
Timing of payment
For Band 1, the applicable legal costs will be paid to your solicitor within 14 days of you receiving your 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 at same time as 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.
For an expert or counsel, we will pay the disbursement fee or fee note within 28 days of receiving the invoice. 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 costs 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 join the framework. However, different billing requirements will apply, and the benefits of the framework will not be available.
We 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, and that 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 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 costs 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.