Tom is a costs specialist and began working in costs litigation in 2003. He was made a Director of the largest costs-only firm in 2012 and became a Partner at a Top-25 UK firm in 2015.
Tom has represented clients at all levels of the Courts, including the Supreme court and the Court of Appeal. In 2009 he represented Total in the Buncefield Oil Explosion case in which the costs disputes exceeded £100m. Tom has successfully represented two Claimants in precedent making decisions involving ADR (sanctioning paying parties for refusing to engage in.
Tom’s considerable experience along with his excellent commercial awareness make him an exceptionally respected and highly ranked costs expert. He is instructed by high-net-worth individuals, financial institutions, Top 100 firms, Peers of the Realm and FTSE 100 companies.
Tom is particularly recognised for handling complex and high value costs cases, including large group actions such as the Visa/Mastercard case, the Trucking Cartel action and the VW emissions group action.
Tom has been described as “the only costs/funding expert to instruct” and by a High Court Judge as “forceful, methodical, and meticulous.”
He has been independently ranked as one of the best Costs Specialists in the UK by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. He has been described by both as an outstanding costs advocate and litigator.. extremely knowledgeable and knows exactly how to achieve the desired ends. He is exceptional as a manager, advocate, tactician and an organiser.” and “Tom Blackburn is a fearless and robust advocate and very effective negotiator. He can deal with all aspects of cases from beginning to conclusion, including advocacy at court hearings.”
Career and education history
- Pannone LLP
- Just Costs Solicitors – National Advocacy Manager/Director
- Irwin Mitchell – Partner
- University of Bath – Masters
Experience
- Lansdowne Group v Weightmans LLP [2024] EWHC 1600 (SCCO) – Test case against Weightmans LLP challenging their UK Terms of Business (£3m of costs, with a potential impact in the tens of millions).
- Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd & anor [2026] EWHC 357 (Ch), Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 128 – claims between financial companies involving circa £7m of costs and the recovery of a bespoke ATE product in defamation proceedings.
- Group Action – a number of mesothelioma Claimants -v- the MOD, involving recoverable success fees, international elements, local agents and inter parties hourly rates exceeding 100% above GHR. Total costs of over £5m, Top 50 law firm instructed.