I have found John M Hayes to be a very efficient, friendly and knowledgeable service and have been very satisfied with their services.
Fieldings Porter Solicitors
In each edition of the John M Hayes Newsletter we will introduce one of our colleagues. Our inaugural edition focuses on our Managing Director, John M Hayes.
How did you come to work in costs?
I certainly didn’t follow what one could call a direct route!
My father was a miner and I initially followed in his footsteps and worked ‘down the pit’ in Williamthorpe, near Chesterfield.
Deciding that a career as a coal miner was not for me, I subsequently studied in Glasgow and then read Theology at university in London following which I lead churches in Doncaster and Chesham.
After leaving the church I tried a couple of other careers, firstly working as a postman (where I met Jeff Paget, who subsequently became my first trainee Law Costs Draftsman) and then as a life insurance salesman.
Quite by chance, I became aware of the role of a Law Costs Draftsman. I managed to secure a role as a trainee at a firm near where I lived at the time and my career took off from there.
How do you spend your spare time?
I am a big fan of the arts. I regularly attend the opera and classical music recitals, along with having a passion for sculpture and fine art. I also love to travel, with Italy being my favourite destination.
I like to keep abreast of current affairs and politics in particular. I am very interested in education, having sat as a Governor of four different schools.
I am fortunate to live in a beautiful part of Derbyshire which allows me to enjoy the countryside and go walking as often as I am able.
Over the past 27 years you have overseen the expansion of your company from you as a solitary costs draftsman to what is now the largest firm of Costs Lawyers and Law Costs Draftsmen in the country. What is the secret of your success?
Our people. We always employ staff who have talent, intelligence and, crucially, integrity. I enjoyed my time in practice and I am always keen to employ people who have the same passion for the job which I have. We invest heavily in training which ensures that we maintain consistent and high standards throughout each of our offices. We have an incredible staff retention rate which has seen a number of people work for us for more than 20 years and of which I am very proud. I believe that our low staff turnover is in no small part due to the fact that we have always been willing to provide opportunities for growth and development to everyone in the company.
Has the role of a costs practitioner changed during the course of your career?
The job has changed so much since I first started. The work being done by our Law Costs Draftsmen and Costs Lawyers is becoming increasingly complex and costs practitioners are now rightly considered to be specialist lawyers in their own right. Our clients rely on our expertise more and more frequently, and our Costs Lawyers and Law Costs Draftsmen are often involved during the course of the substantive litigation rather than simply at the end of the case.
There is a lot of talk in the industry about the Jackson reforms sounding the death knell for costs lawyers and costs draftsmen. What are your feelings about this?
The simple fact is that nobody knows where costs is going. All we can do is keep our ear to the ground. We are lucky enough to have a strong network of contacts which allows us to stay ahead of the curve and be proactive in respect of – rather than reactive to – any challenges or changes which come our way.
We are constantly listening to our clients in order to be able to respond to their needs. With so many very competent Costs Lawyers and Law Costs Draftsmen I am confident that we will be able to rise to any challenges. I am convinced that there remains a bright future for the very best costs practitioners.
And, finally, what does the ‘M’ in ‘John M Hayes’ stand for?
Melvin. I have always disliked the name, but the 'M' has now become a strong symbol in the Company logo!
Tuesday 10th September 2013