Pricing.

How we charge

We work on hourly rates for most matters and on fixed fees where the scope can be defined in advance. We will tell you which applies before you are committed to anything.

Hourly rates

Supervision

Each charging category is used under the supervision of a named solicitor. The bands describe how time is billed. Confirm who will do the work, and who will supervise it, before the retainer begins.

VAT

All rates are exclusive of VAT, currently charged at 20%. Disbursements we pay on your behalf may or may not carry VAT and we itemise both separately on every bill.

How time is recorded

Time is recorded in six-minute units. We do not charge for the first conversation in which we work out whether we can help you.

Scope and timescales

You will have a written scope, a fee estimate and a named solicitor within two working days of instructing us, and within one working day on urgent matters. If the scope changes, you get a revised estimate in writing before the additional work starts, not after.

Estimates

An estimate is not a cap. What moves it is almost always volume of documents, the number of people to be interviewed, and whether the other side cooperates. We will tell you as soon as we can see an estimate being exceeded.

SRA Transparency Rules

The mandatory price publication requirements in the SRA Transparency Rules do not apply to the work we do, because we do not offer the listed consumer and small-business services. We publish our rates here voluntarily and on the same basis we would be required to if the rules did apply.

Insurance and third-party funding

Directors' and officers' liability cover and legal expenses insurance will often pay for this work. Where you have that cover we will, at your request, notify the insurer, seek their agreement to our rates and bill them directly. Insurers frequently impose a panel rate below ours; if they do, we will tell you the difference in writing and you decide whether to cover the gap or instruct panel counsel instead. You remain responsible for our fees if the insurer declines or withdraws cover.

No guaranteed recoveries

Fees are for legal work. We will not promise a recovery that the evidence does not support.