Minister McEntee announces appointment of new Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator and welcomes publication of 2023 annual report
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From: Department of Justice
- Published on: 27 September 2024
- Last updated on: 27 September 2024
The Government has today approved the appointment of Mr Barry Magee as Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator.
The vacancy will arise on 7 October 2024 upon the retirement of the current Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator Mr Paul Behan.
Mr. Magee joined the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator in 2020, having qualified as a solicitor in 2000.
Having initially worked in private practise, he went on to hold positions in both the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Railway Procurement Agency, as well as being the Chairperson of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal/International Protections Appeals Tribunal.
Welcoming the appointment, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee T.D. said:
“With almost 25 years of professional experience spanning private practice and public sector positions, Mr. Magee has a deep understanding of the work of the Legal Costs Adjudicator.
“I would like to congratulate Mr Magee on his appointment and wish him well in his new role.”
The outgoing Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator Mr. Paul Behan was appointed with the commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act in 2019.
Paying tribute to his achievements, Minister McEntee said:
“Mr. Behan played a pivotal role in overseeing significant changes in Irish law as the first Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator.
“He was a guiding force in setting up the structures and systems and High Court Rules required for the implementation of then new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators in 2019.
“The change that occurred in this area of law called for a leader of exceptional experience and expertise, and Mr. Behan rose to the challenge.
“I would like to wish him all the best as he begins the next chapter of his life.”
Government today also approved publication of the 2023 Annual Report of the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator.
Minister McEntee added:
“The Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator has delivered the modernisation of the old Taxing-Master function, making it more transparent in its decision-making processes.
“This report clearly demonstrates that we now have greater transparency in how legal costs determinations are being made.”
ENDS…///
Notes for Editors:
About the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator
• The Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator was established in 2019 to enable access to the independent, impartial and objective resolution of legal costs disputes through the provision of a courteous and professional service in the performance of its statutory functions.
• The Office also endeavours to maintain and provide transparency throughout the adjudication process, with reasoned outcomes being published and accessible via the register of determinations, so as to inform both legal practitioners and the public.