Regulation 31 Time limits

Subject to paragraph (2), the time limit within which any act is required or authorised to be done under these Regulations may, for good reason, be extended—

Where a representative without good reason has failed (or, if an extension were not granted, would fail) to comply with a time limit, the appropriate officer, a Costs Judge or the High Court, as the case may be, may, in exceptional circumstances, extend the time limit and must consider whether it is reasonable in the circumstances to reduce the fees payable to the representative under regulations 4, 5 or 6, provided that the fees must not be reduced unless the representative has been allowed a reasonable opportunity to show cause orally or in writing why the fees should not be reduced.

A representative may appeal to a Costs Judge against a decision made under this regulation by an appropriate officer and such an appeal must be instituted within 21 days of the decision being given by giving notice in writing to the Senior Costs Judge specifying the grounds of appeal.

In this regulation, where the main hearing is a trial, “trial advocate” means, for the purposes of the meaning of “representative”, the advocate who—