Director and Costs Lawyer – Manchester
Nick McDonnell graduated from Cambridge University in 1998 and subsequently went into the law practicing civil litigation with a small solicitors’ firm in the North West where he also took up an interest in costs.
Since then, Nick qualified as a Costs Lawyer (2010) working with a number of leading costs firms and costs solicitors. Nick has become a well respected expert in his field conducting high value and complex costs matters, managing a costs business as well as delivering technical and practical training to firms of solicitors throughout England and Wales.
Nick manages Kain Knight’s Manchester office and continues to enjoy handling a complex caseload, with an emphasis on Commercial, Intellectual Property, Civil and Catastrophic Injury litigation, including costs management & budgeting, detailed assessment proceedings, as well as conducting appeals up to the Court of Appeal and assessments pursuant to the Solicitors Act 1974. Nick also has extensive experience as an advocate at costs hearings (even appearing in the Court of Appeal before Lord Justice Jackson) and is a qualified mediator.
Nick is also the founder of FRCConnect, a unique online platform where civil litigators can go for the latest guidance and practical assistance with everything relating to Fixed Recoverable Costs. Members of FRCConnect can pose questions, share experiences and benefit from the collective wisdom of industry peers to successfully manage fixed costs cases.
Outside of work, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. He also enjoys reading (sci-fi and fantasy, in particular), listening to jazz, playing the guitar and the drums, and travelling to Mallorca.