Kerry Underwood

Kerry Underwood is a solicitor and is Senior Partner of Underwoods Solicitors and Underwoods South Africa and is a lecturer, writer, broadcaster and former Employment Judge.

Kerry has written eight books on costs and funding issues, three of them on fixed costs. He has regular columns in Practical Law and records videos for them.

Kerry pioneered Conditional Fee Agreements, TV advertising by lawyers and off-shoring work to South Africa and was heavily involved in Lord Justice Jackson's review of the extension of fixed costs, speaking at the first two events and, at Lord Justice Jackson's request, preparing figures for discussion for every aspect of civil litigation, and speaking with him at the Law Society. Kerry is quoted in Lord Jackson's book and report on fixed costs.

At the request of the Master of the Rolls, he spoke at the Civil Justice Council review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Kerry is a former Councillor and Parliamentary candidate and is consulted by senior members of both Front Benches in the House of Commons and the judiciary.

Kerry is an acknowledged expert on the legal system generally and in particular structural and funding issues, and his blog at www.kerryunderwood.wordpress.com has over 10,000 subscribers and has had millions of visits and Kerry can be followed on Twitter @kerry_underwood.

Kerry is a member of the Lord's Taverners, the cricket charity whose aim is to give young people, especially disabled and disadvantaged young people, a sporting chance in life and is national events co-ordinator for Lord's Taverners South Africa.

Kerry travels extensively and home is his beloved adopted town of Hemel Hempstead and he spends part of the year in his other adopted home -Wellington in South Africa.

Kerry is Vice-Chairman of Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club.

Kerry's other interests include football, cricket, gardening and reading and Nelson Mandela, TS Eliot and Elvis are amongst his heroes.