Switalskis Group has acquired specialist legal costs services provider Calculus Legal Costs Holdings Limited, welcoming the well-regarded business while it retains its own identity, management and client relationships.

This acquisition brings together two closely aligned businesses with a shared commitment to client service, specialist expertise and achieving best outcomes for clients.

Established in Southport in 2003 by John Hayes, Calculus has grown from humble beginnings into a successful business providing specialist costs advice and services to many of the UK’s leading personal injury and clinical negligence firms.

Calculus has developed to meet the needs of a constantly evolving legal costs landscape, which has seen overall volumes reduce and cases become increasingly complex. The Company provides technical costs services including the preparation of detailed costs budgets, drafting formal bills of costs, points of dispute and points of reply as well as appearing at various types of costs hearings.

The Calculus team includes several costs lawyers, and the business actively encourages its people to develop their careers through to qualification. Calculus is always on the lookout for talented individuals as it continues to grow its team. It will operate under its existing name and as a separate legal entity, with clients continuing to work with the same team and under the same commercial arrangements and upholding the strictest confidentiality. John Hayes will remain with the business as a director.

Switalskis, a national firm with 11 offices and over 380 people, has worked with Calculus since September 2018 using its services for part of the firm’s own legal costs work. This longstanding relationship has given Switalskis a detailed understanding of the business and its approach, which combines technical expertise with an accessible and responsive service.

John Durkan, Switalskis CEO, says: “This is an important acquisition for Switalskis as it brings additional highly engaged and respected specialists, skills and knowledge into our group. While Calculus and Switalskis will remain distinctly separate businesses, being part of our group brings many advantages. It gives Calculus access to additional resources and expertise, particularly across HR and IT as well as opportunities for us all to share knowledge and best practice.

“There’s a strong cultural fit between our businesses. We’ve both built reputations on putting clients first, developing trusted relationships and investing in our people, which gives us a solid foundation from which to work together. We will support John and the team while building on the success they have created.”

Whilst the decision to sell comes at a point when Calculus is performing strongly, John Hayes explains that his first-hand experience of the Southport attack on 29 July 2024 prompted him to reflect on his priorities and consider the future direction of the business.

John Hayes says: “My clients have been very supportive of my decision, which has meant a great deal to me. Calculus is a business I am immensely proud of and, after more than 20 years, it was important that I found the best path forward.

“The traumatic experience in Southport made me take stock and think about what I wanted for the next stage of my life and for the business. That did not change how I felt about Calculus or the success our team has achieved, but it did make me think carefully about what is important and how I wanted to see the business continue to thrive.

“Switalskis was a natural choice. We’ve worked together for many years, they know the quality of our work, our people and the demands of the costs market. Switalskis has committed to the longevity of the Southport office, and I will remain closely involved in the business. It also presents opportunities for development and growth for our team, which is of utmost importance to me. I look forward to seeing Calculus continue to develop and grow while benefiting from the opportunities that being part of the Switalskis Group will bring.”