My Story – Chris Lacey
Chris Lacey – Operations Manager.
From dashing around Liverpool courts at 17 to steering operations in a national costs business, Chris has lived and breathed legal costs for over two decades. In this blog, Chris shares how a chance conversation changed the course of his career, what it’s like managing operations in the legal costs world – and why nothing beats a Liverpool FC away day with his dad.
How did your journey into legal costs begin?
I didn’t enjoy sixth form – sitting in a classroom just wasn’t for me. Most of my mates were heading into practical jobs and earning money, and I wanted to do the same. I got my first role at 17 as an office junior in a family law firm, and while working, I also studied A-Level Law in the evenings.
I loved the pace, especially being involved in parental disputes, divorce proceedings & injunction applications – all very people-focused work. I enjoyed running around courts and getting stuck in. At one point, my boss pulled me to one side and said, “I can see you have some potential so I want to promote you”, and created a fee-earning role for me.
That was a real turning point – and when I later moved to another satellite office within the same firm, I started preparing Legal Aid Claim forms and Bills in family proceedings. That’s when it clicked. I enjoyed the numbers, thought process and logic, and it opened a whole new door into the world of legal costs.
So how did you make the leap into legal costs?
It was through my old manager whose brother worked in costs. She suggested I speak to him as whilst I was doing well working as a fee earner in Family Law, at the time the business couldn’t offer me much more progression. And that was it. I joined a new firm and quickly moved on from junior tasks to drafting and negotiating. It was very much learn-on-the-job, but I picked it up quickly, I had no choice.
By the time I was 21, I was sent to Nottingham County Court to attend a Detailed Assessment Hearing – completely unassisted by colleagues. It was a tough case, and I got absolutely mullered on an old Garratt CFA point (showing my age there!), but my boss expected that outcome and later admitted he only sent me because he knew we were going to lose. Still, it gave me a real appetite for advocacy and showed me how deep and technical this field can be. A few months later, I attended a hearing on one of my own matters, which I won comfortably. That experience gave me a lot of confidence, but what stood out just as much was the respectful attitude of the Costs Judge and my opponent, who recognised I was clearly new to Detailed Assessments. It was a generous gesture — and a reminder that everyone has to start somewhere.
What was your path to Your Legal Costs?
In 2008, I joined Compass Costs, mostly preparing Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Bills – still my favourite areas and still my favourite period in costs (pre-LASPO!). I was there until 2011 when another firm attempted to poach me. When I informed my manager at Compass, they made me an offer to stay and created a management position for me, which I was happy to accept. I was just 27, running a team of around 10–12. I really enjoyed leadership and supporting colleagues with their development – even though I missed being hands-on with drafting at times.
Then in 2015, I was approached to help set up a new Drafting Department for a national costs business. We launched it across the road, and around 30 staff followed immediately – with more joining later on. After a three-month stint of gardening leave (and some bad golf), we were off – building the business from the ground up. At one point, we had over 100 people just in costs, including an office in York I enjoyed visiting weekly. I loved the challenge of growing the business and the team.
In 2018, I became Operations Manager, working across multiple departments to help build structure and support for wider teams. When Your Legal Costs was created in 2022, it gave me the opportunity to step into a broader role – more client-facing, more strategic, and more cross-functional. Previously, I had only managed Bill Drafting Teams, but I’m now involved across all departments of the business.
What does your role as Operations Manager involve today?
It’s all about making sure the costs engine runs as smoothly as possible – people, processes, and performance. I work closely with our team leaders to keep things moving and have a strong working relationship with our Head of Operations, Jeni Furlong, who I work closely with. That might involve resourcing, developing processes, hitting billing targets, or getting under the bonnet of metrics.
I also now spend more time in client-facing work – which I really enjoy – and I work alongside Jeni and the senior leadership team to shape how we grow. We’ve built a team I’m really proud of, and I’m a big believer in supporting people to develop – just as I was supported earlier in my career.
You mentioned you enjoy the client side — what drives that?
Relationships matter. I think clients want to work with people they trust and who understand the pressures of their own business. When you’ve done the job at every level – from drafting to negotiating to managing – it gives you real empathy. And it helps you speak their language. I love to hear staff on the phone with clients developing their relationships.
What’s life like outside of work?
Busy – but brilliant. I’m married to Emily, who works in adult social care for a local council. It’s a tough job, managing funding and transition for vulnerable adults, but she’s incredible at what she does. I try to support her as much as I can, especially because it’s not an easy role to switch off from.
Our daughter Lottie-Rose is five and absolutely full of energy. She’s into everything – dressing up, dancing, singing, playing with her masses of teddy bears, and to my delight she is just starting to enjoy football. Emily loves how girly she is, and I’m just loving watching her grow into her own little person and amazing personality.
Weekends are all about family. We make a point of getting out somewhere every week, whether it’s the Lake District, a park for some fresh air and to burn some energy, or even just a walk with the dog. It’s our time to switch off and just be together.
I also love playing golf with friends and occasionally my dad, I’m getting a bit better and enjoy playing in fair weather!
You got married recently – tell us about that
We did – in Rhodes, last year, and it was honestly the best time of our lives. We had around 50 guests across the three weeks we were there, with friends and family coming and going. The whole thing was just perfect – from the setting to the weather to the people who made the effort to come over and enjoy it with us.
Lottie-Rose absolutely loved it. Having that time all together, no distractions, just enjoying each other’s company in such a beautiful place. It was everything we hoped it would be. Getting married abroad was one of the best decisions we made. It still doesn’t feel real sometimes!
And the dog?
Arlo the Docker! He’s a long-haired dachshund–cocker spaniel cross. He’s got the face and ears of a cocker but the long body of a dachshund. He’s full of beans – but once it hits 7 or 8pm, he crashes out for the night. He’s a digger too… if there’s a flower bed, he’s in it. He’s Lottie-Rose’s best friend and it’s lovely to see them have such a great relationship.
You’re a big Liverpool fan – any favourite away trips?
Absolutely. I’ve followed Liverpool since I was seven – home and away, even abroad, usually with my dad. Best away trip? Madrid, 2019, when we won the Champions League. That whole experience – the journey, the dodgy accommodation, the city, the fans, the result – was unbelievable.
Seville was brilliant too, and I’ll never forget Kyiv. We lost that final, but the people, the city – it was an incredible trip. What’s happening in Ukraine now just adds perspective to that memory. Travel and football have given me some of my favourite moments.
I have been a season ticket holder for over 30 years, so my time spent is finally seeing the rewards of spending all that money over the years! It is nice to create my own stories as my Dad has been telling me about fantastic we were in the 70’s and 80’s which I missed out on.
Any final thoughts?
I’ve been really lucky to have people who believed in me and gave me chances – from my first boss who pushed me in the right direction and saw that I had a talent, to leaders who pushed me into management when I didn’t think I was ready. I’ve worked hard, but I’ve also had great support.
Now, it’s about paying that forward – building a business that looks after people, develops talent, and delivers top service for clients. I’m proud of where we are, and excited about where we’re going next.
