John Mistri

Senior Partner and Costs Lawyer
Office: Amersham
Tel: 01494 722326

Profile

John is a founding Partner of Elite Law Solicitors and is a specialist costs advocate. He started his career as a Law Costs Draftsman with Farrer & Co in 1982 before moving to Kingsley Napley where he dealt with Inter Partes Assessments. John moved to McKenna & Co (now Cameron McKenna) and then to Bailey Shaw & Gillett with particular responsibility for Inter Parte claims for costs and preparation of both Contentious and Non-Contentious matters.

In 1990 John went into partnership with fellow director Stephen Howey with the establishment of HM Law Costs Draftsmen (now Elite Law Solicitors).

For 3 years John was a Council member of the Association of Costs Lawyers with specific responsibilities for education. John regularly provides seminars to clients on the impact of new rules and changes to costs litigation and was amongst the first group of Costs Draftsmen in England and Wales to obtain the status of Costs Lawyer, with rights of audience and to conduct costs litigation. John is on the panel of advocates for a number of firms and regularly attends Detailed Assessment hearings.

John’s specialities are in relation to Solicitor and Own Client disputes including Non-Contentious disputes under the Solicitors Act 1974. He is responsible for the supervision of all Detailed Assessment Hearings in the Senior Court Costs Office and other Regional and County Courts attending many of these hearings personally. John has been involved in very high value assessments, prepared expert evidence for Security for Costs claims and technical support with commercial third-party funders. He has been involved in numerous high profile, media sensitive Group Litigation claims, and assisted with the highest valued claim from public funds in the Isle of Man.

In 2019, John was heavily involved with the unique high value budgeting process of the Post Office Group Litigation as well as other local group claims.

John is an ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator and assists clients in a variety of disputes.

In his spare time John enjoys taking on challenging charity events, including The Gurkha 100-kilometre walk within 24 hours (twice), running the London Marathon (slowly) and more recently the Three Peaks Challenge and British Heart Foundation London to Brighton bike race. John also enjoys travel and is a keen golfer.

Reviews

“I have been using the services of Elite Law (and formally HM Law Costs Draftsmen) for over two decades. The service provided has always been exemplary. For my part I am most uncomfortable with the whole cost budgeting process and it is therefore most comforting to know that Elite Law are there, and at times at very short notice, to undertake the necessary work. I have also found that the involvement of Elite Law has assisted in maximising recovery of costs. I am indebted to John Mistri and his team.” – Gennaro Baffa, Director, Shepherd Harris Solicitors

“Elite Law are my go-to legal costs experts. They are approachable, knowledgeable and give very sensible, commercial and clear advice.” – Jonathan Cole, Senior Associate, Goodman Derrick LLP

“John’s approach is clear and pragmatic. His help was greatly appreciated in helping to defeat a number of arguments raised by the paying party. John was very helpful in that the opposing party was respectful of his knowledge and sensible approach which assisted in enabling a settlement to be achieved.” – Virginia Ralfe, Director, City Lawyers

“I have used John Mistri for many years and always found him to be very helpful, very knowledgeable and a very user-friendly Costs Draftsman.” – Peter Pratt, Senior Associate, Collyer Bristow

“I have instructed John on a number of occasions over many years. He is extremely knowledgeable in his field and very user-friendly. I always have no hesitation in recommending John for anyone needing a Costs Lawyer.” – Alistair Myles, Partner, Levison Meltzer Pigott

“John has been a valuable asset to us on some of our very large and complex litigation with substantial cost implications. He is very much part of the legal team and is quick to get to grips with the legal and procedural issues, which underpin his work relating to costs. He is also alive to the wider commercial considerations in dealing with these issues. He is also a pleasure to work with on a personal level. I would highly recommend him.” – Imogen Randall, Senior Associate, Freeths