Adjudication cost calculator
Compare the money you might receive with your own cost assumptions before deciding how to pursue a dispute.
by Jack Butler-Kettle · About 2 min readShare
How to use it
Enter your own figures or load the fictional example. No fee estimate, recovery probability or recommendation is built into the calculation.
Preparation costs and the adjudicator's fees are separate. Read who pays adjudication costs before choosing assumptions.
Your assumed receipt in this scenario, not a prediction or the headline claim value.
Your own consultant, solicitor and expert budget. Use quoted costs where available.
Your estimate of staff time spent preparing and managing the case.
The full assumed fee, before allocating a share to either party.
Include applicable appointment, enforcement and irrecoverable tax costs. Enter zero if none are included.
Enter every amount, including zero where appropriate, to calculate your scenario.
Use a consistent VAT basis. This does not estimate prospects, legal entitlement, fee allocation or whether the other party will pay.
The full-fee scenario illustrates potential funding exposure. It does not decide your legal liability or include any later reimbursement.
Understanding your results
Compare the scenarios with available funds and the amount realistically recoverable. Keep your own fees, the adjudicator's charges and possible enforcement costs distinct. The budget is an estimate, not a costs award or a prediction of success.
How it works
Your share of adjudicator fees is the total assumed fee multiplied by your chosen percentage. Preparation, staff and other costs are then added.
The assumed receipt less these costs gives the net amount for that scenario. It can be negative. No costs are assumed recoverable from the opponent.
The fictional example uses a £22,000 receipt, £4,000 preparation, £1,000 staff cost and £500 other costs. Half of £5,000 adjudicator fees adds £2,500.
Total scenario cost is £8,000, leaving £14,000 after costs. Funding all adjudicator fees instead would require £10,500 across the same cost headings.
Change the receipt to zero to examine a no-recovery scenario. Also consider timing, enforcement, solvency and any further proceedings outside this simple calculation.
A Claim viability review can help organise the disputed issues, evidence and commercial considerations before a route is selected.