Melanie Bonté

Melanie is a dual qualified Solicitor and Costs Lawyer. She joined Birketts in 2009.

Melanie practiced as a litigator in the firm’s Shipping Team for 10 years and has extensive experience of Court litigation from County Court through all appellate levels, particularly in the Business and Property Courts. She also has extensive arbitration experience, in particular with LMAA and LCIA arbitration.

During her time as a shipping litigator Melanie oversaw the team’s costs work, which led to her transition to becoming a qualified Costs Lawyer and heading up the firm’s Costs Team. She has very broad Costs experience, covering all key areas such as preparation of documentation in the Costs Budgeting process (Precedent H, R and T), Detailed Assessment (Bills of Costs, Points of Dispute and Replies), undertaking Costs negotiations and advising on bespoke Costs Law issues. Given her background, Melanie has a particular expertise in costs arising in shipping disputes and commercial litigation but also has significant experience in property and construction disputes.

Melanie studied Law with European Legal Systems at the University of East Anglia and Lunds Universitet (Sweden) before completing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in Chester. She qualified as a Solicitor in September 2011.

Experience & education

2021 qualified as a Costs Lawyer

2011 qualified as a Solicitor

2009 joined Birketts