Meet the Team – Steve Jones
This week it’s the turn of Steve Jones to take the spotlight in the latest instalment of our Meet the Team series.
First job you ever had? Bike shop Saturday Boy – I sold a Marin Nail Trail to Leo Sayer in 1995.
What led you to work in this field? Wrong pub, wrong time, 20 years ago. Costs proved less awful than accountancy had done however so I stuck around.
Best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? To trust your gut instincts on offers/valuations.
What do you feel is the biggest strength of our company right now? No passengers whatsoever – everyone is really good at what they do.
What’s your most used productivity hack? Frequent breaks and sports at lunch time.
What’s the best thing about being a costs lawyer? Some of the files that come through are genuinely interesting.
What’s the worst thing about being a costs lawyer? It can get a bit samey after the first few hundred bills.
What would you be if you weren’t a costs lawyer? The guy in ski resorts throwing dynamite out of a low flying helicopter to cause tactical avalanches.
Best thing about working at Harmans? Genuinely good people as colleagues and as clients.
Biggest misconception about costs lawyers? That we’re spivs and/or chancers! Qualified costs lawyers are actually a pretty reputable bunch.
How do you explain what you do for a living to family and friends? Depends who’s asking; “Glorified Data Entry Clerk”, “Fairly boring Legal Stuff”, “When you hear on the news about damages of £2M and costs of £1M, we deal with the £1M costs bit.”
Biggest work pet peeve? Keyboard warriors spewing out ill conceived points of dispute then cowering behind Counsel who has to apologise to the Judge for the dross on the page.
If you could change one thing about your job what would it be? More deals less delays. Greater penalties for advancing spurious technical drivel.
What activities do you enjoy outside of work? Family, sports, pub, bicycles, motor cars, chainsaws, skiing.
Do you have any pets? Can we see a photo? Alfred, a Hungarian Vizsla. A cretinous animal who redeems himself only by being great with children. Hungary ought to be ashamed of their export nonetheless.
If you could have dinner with one famous person who would it be? Steve Coogan in character as Partridge.
Do you have a hidden talent? I can put in a reasonably strong showing at the Pizza Hut buffet.
Favourite sport to watch? What about to play? Watching; Test match Cricket, pro cycling. Playing; club cricket, cycle racing, cyclocross.
