At National Costing Lawyers, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide exceptional legal costing solutions. We can only do this because of our remarkable team of highly skilled costs lawyers and legal professionals.
Our team are independent experts with well-honed, specialist insight into legal costs recovery.
Lisa Sawyer is the Legal Practitioner Director of National Costing Lawyers and a Legal Costs Consultant with our affiliate firms National Costing Services and QICS.
Commencing with the costing group of businesses in 2014, Lisa is an integral team member. She is true to her word and places great emphasis on her core values of integrity and ethics. Lisa exudes a comprehensive knowledge and a profound understanding of the law of costs which is greatly admired by her peers and clients alike.
Lisa’s expertise includes drafting of notices of objection, responses to objections, and general submissions in support or resistance of security for costs applications.
Preceding her legal costing career, Lisa’s specialty was in-house governance in the financial services sector where she perfected her corporate governance and company secretarial skills.
When she steps away from the world of legal costing, Lisa enjoys the company of her beautiful family and marveling in the gorgeous Gold Coast. Being an avid netball player she can be spotted regularly on the netball court. On other days she curls up and immerses herself in a literary page turner.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Bond University)
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (QUT)
Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Queensland in 1998
Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance
Company Directors Course
Memberships
Queensland Law Society
Chartered Governance Institute
Associate of the Governance Institute of Australia
Areas of Expertise
Notices of Objections & Responses
Appearances on Taxation
Expert Reports & Evidence
Cost Consulting & Management
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In Queensland in 1995 Lance was admitted as a Solicitor. Following this, in 1996 he was admitted to practice in New South Wales and then in 1997 in the Australian Capital Territory.
In August 2007 Lance was appointed to the Register of Approved Costs Assessors.
Lance commenced his legal costing career in 1999. Prior to joining the group of companies in 2007, Lance had his own costing firm, Ensor Legal Costs Pty Ltd.
Lance lives a fulfilling life with his wife Genny. Together they enjoy travelling and a nice drop or two of wine. They lead a busy life with their four adult children and four beautiful grandchildren.
Lance is a Queensland Legacy Legatee, a former Treasurer for the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee, and is a retired member of the Australian Defence Force.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
Bachelor of Arts
Memberships
Queensland Law Society
Areas of Expertise
Costs Determinations
Bill of Costs (Costs Statement)
Court Appointed Assessor
Chenara joined the group of companies in 2011. She was drawn to the legal costing industry due to the diversity it offers. Chenara excels in Bill of Costs preparation, undertaking short form assessments (costs determinations), and advising our clients in all areas of legal costing, whether it be a Solicitor and Own-Client basis, Standard (Party and Party) basis or Indemnity basis.
Chenara’s presence is always a delight with a smile on her face and a great sense of humour. She is loyal, honest and dearly loves her family. When away from the office, she enjoys being out and about in the sun with her family and cheering on her two boys at the swimming.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice (Griffith University)
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bond University)
Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland 2008
Added to the Register of Practitioners of the High Court of Australia 2008
Memberships
Queensland Law Society
Areas of Expertise
Costs Determinations
Bill of Costs (Costs Statements)
Whilst studying a Bachelor of Laws at Bond University in 2012, Sheri commenced her legal costing career with our affiliate firm, QICS.
Since being admitted as a Solicitor in 2014, she immensely enjoys working in costs law and focuses on short form assessments (costs determinations) and bills of costs. Initially, Sheri was drawn to the complexity of costing, fitting together the pieces of the puzzle and achieving accurate results.
Beyond the workplace, Sheri is devoted to her young family. When the opportunity arises she loves event planning, puzzles and being involved in her church community.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Bond University)
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bond University)
Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Queensland in 2014
Memberships
Queensland Law Society
Areas of Expertise
Costs Determinations
Bill of Costs (Costs Statements)
As the Managing Director of our affiliate firm, QICS, and having successfully grown that organisation for 25 years, Alan decided to launch National Costing Lawyers. This division of the business focuses on legal costing matters of a litigious nature.
Alan has an extensive legal costing career spanning more than 40 years. He commenced his foray into legal costing with Law Costs working alongside his mother. In 1989 he founded QICS (Queensland Independent Costing Services) with two assessors and two typists.
The business flourished under his leadership and he grew the organisation to provide services nationally. QICS is now one of the most highly recognised legal costing providers in Australia with five costs lawyers, five costs consultants, and 12 support staff servicing the country.
With more than 40 years experience under his belt, Alan’s reputation precedes him and he is regarded as one of the most trusted and proficient legal costing professionals in the industry. His specialty is providing legal practices with management and consultancy advice ensuring that cost recovery is compliant, effective, and transparent.
Due to his extensive experience in management advice and counselling he is highly sought after by legal professionals throughout Australia. He is often called upon to give evidence in court as a legal costs expert.
When presented with the opportunity Alan loves to give back to the community. His passion and understanding of the law of costs has guided him to share this knowledge with the country’s future lawyers. For more than 10 years Alan has been a regular presenter to Bond University Law Faculty students as part of their Practical Legal Training program.
He also loves to present at CLE sessions on legal costs to local law associations, the Queensland Law Society and in-house for legal firms.
When Alan is not immersed in his work he thrives in the company of his beautiful wife and spending quality time with his four daughters, eight grandchildren and great friends. When time permits, Alan loves to travel and immerse himself in local cultures. He is also a keen horse racing spectator.
Areas of Expertise
Costs Determinations
Expert Reports & Evidence
Costs Management and Consulting
In 2019 Robert joined our affiliate firm, QICS, and is the Finance Manager for the group of companies. He honed his financial management skills over many years working with Gold Coast accountancy firms.
Robert is genuine and down-to-earth. Ethics and integrity are at the forefront of all he does.
He is responsible for all areas of finance from accounts payable and receivable, payroll, to financial reporting for National Costing Lawyers and our affiliate firms QICS and National Costing Services.
Away from the office Robert is a devoted family man and has a great love for cricket.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Business (Accounting and eCommerce) | Griffith University
Chantel joined the group of companies at a young age and quickly learnt every facet of the business and has an deep understanding of the administration side of legal costing.
Her primary responsibility is to review all Costs Determinations and ensure they meet our strict company guidelines. She also manages our exceptional administration team.
Chantel exudes compassion and empathy and is an active member of her church community providing support to those in need.
She idolises her husband, new born baby daughter and precious pooch.
Chantel looks forward to introducing her beautiful daughter to Hawaii and its gorgeous culture.
Qualifications
Currently undertaking a Diploma in Legal Services
Having worked for our affiliate firm, QICS, since 2008, Amanda is a valuable contributor and highly regarded team member. Primarily, she focuses on reviewing assessors’ costs determinations. Never short of a smile and a willingness to help, you can count on Amanda to assist with adhoc-projects.
Amanda’s happy place is surrounded by nature with her husband and children by her side or when she’s immersed in a page-turning novel. She looks forward to the day we can travel the world unrestricted.
Qualifications
Diploma in Management
