My hourly rate is £180. I do not charge VAT.
I also undertake certain types of work at an agreed fixed fee, for example court representation. My objective is to keep your costs down while still providing you with an excellent service. Often that means you being prepared to carry out parts of the work yourself and paying me to do the parts that you might find difficult, or you need a solicitor to undertake.
After an initial brief conversation about your case, for which I do not charge, I will have obtained a reasonable idea about the type of case you have and what would be involved. If we then wish to work with each other, I will usually recommend a 2-hour paid consultation in which I will obtain a fuller understanding of your case, read any court/legal documents you might have and explain what you can expect going forwards. This will include setting out an estimation of likely costs and the time the matter might take to resolve. I will always try and find alternative solutions to court, such as mediation, arbitration or just correspondence.
Invoicing
If I proceed with your case, I aim to invoice clients at the end of every month unless otherwise agreed. Payment is due by the date indicated on the invoice unless otherwise agreed.
Full details of fees and payment terms are contained in my Terms and Conditions and Engagement Letter.
Third Party Fees
As a Freelance Solicitor, I am only authorized to handle money that is for payment of my fees. This means that you will need to make direct payment of third-party fees (for example to pay for a barrister or for someone to compile a court bundle), yourself. I will explain this in detail as and when it is relevant to your case.