Pricing Policy

We have trained our lawyers so that they can provide you with that peace of mind by making it clear from the beginning:

• what we will be doing for you
• what it is likely to cost
• how that cost will be calculated

It is important that there are no surprises and that you can predict your budget and likely cost with as much certainty as possible. The price for our work should always reflect the value you receive. All of this will be documented in writing before we begin work.

Whenever you instruct us, we will set out what will be involved and who will be doing the work. Wherever possible, we will offer you a choice of pricing options. Some clients prefer to pay on an hourly rate while others want the certainty of a fixed price for the work. By involving you in that choice, we will be able to agree a pricing approach which suits you.

In more complex matters, the pricing options may include different ways of sharing the risk. You might, for example, prefer a price which is related to the result of the case.

If we are not able to price the whole piece of work at the outset, perhaps because it is not yet clear exactly what will be involved, we will agree a pricing arrangement for each stage as soon as we are able to do so. It may be that you will prefer an hourly rate for the initial work and then a fixed fee for the rest once the scope becomes clear. Many combinations are possible, all with the aim of making sure that you get clarity, transparency and a pricing structure you are happy with.

There are some areas of work where we are required by our regulator to give an indication of our pricing structure on our website. You can find those details below.

Litigation – Disputes & Resolution

What we will be doing for you

As every case is different, we will discuss pricing with you once we have a clear picture of your needs. Our objective is to give you peace of mind. We aim to agree a price and a structure which suits you.

What it is likely to cost

Professional Fees

Unless otherwise agreed we charge our professional fees according to our current hourly rates which are divided into six minute units. These rates depend on seniority.

Director or Senior Partner: £600 per hour + VAT
Partner: £525 per hour + VAT
Senior Associate: £385 per hour + VAT
Junior Associate: £285 per hour + VAT
Trainee or Paralegal: £185 per hour + VAT

Disbursements

In the course of litigation, we are highly likely to inform you of the need to commit to certain expenses and/or disbursements.

Typical expenses can include without limit travel costs, photocopying, document management services, courier costs, translation costs, accommodation (where travel is needed), collectively Expenses. All Expenses will of course be incurred solely for the purpose of your case.

How our costs are calculated

Where we provide a costs estimate it is based on the information available to us at the time. It is an estimate, not a quotation or fixed fee and subject to change. The estimate takes account of factors such as likely time spent, size and complexity of issues, speed at which action must be taken, expertise or specialist knowledge required. We shall monitor our costs as the matter progresses and provide a revised costs estimate if necessary.

If the case proceeds to trial, we will estimate the costs from the issue of proceedings to trial. We base this estimate on the following specific assumptions:

• number of witnesses
• number of disclosable documents
• number of experts
• use of counsel

Where a case is proceeding in the High Court we are obliged to submit to Court a detailed budget [known as a Precedent H] and we will give you visibility of this prior to filing it at Court.

Where your case is in the County Court no precedent H is required but we will nevertheless provide you with a budget although not in the same granular detail required by the Precedent H.