Richardson Hartley Solicitors Fees and Funding

At RH Solicitors we have a variety of funding options available to our clients.

Our aim is to help everyone gain access to justice and part of that involves us being flexible when it come to fees and funding.

The general rule regarding litigation costs is that each party will bear his or her own costs. However the losing party is usually ordered to pay both parties costs following a court hearing, although this is not set in stone. It is important therefore to have a funding plan in place to cover incurred or unexpected costs. Our fees are billed at a standard hourly rate on a time spent basis, plus disbursements and VAT, but we can offer an alternative to this traditional method of funding, depending on your particular case.

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Funding Options

No Win, No Fee/ Conditional Fee Agreements

A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), also known as a no win, no fee agreement, is an arrangement between the client and the solicitor whereby the solicitor does not charge a fee if the claim is unsuccessful.

If the claim does succeed, RH Law would claim its hourly rate from the opposing side.

All the terms of a CFA would be outlined to the client before a case progresses.

Hourly Rate

In some cases it may be beneficial for the client to choose to pay Richardson Hartley Law an hourly rate.

When an hourly rate it normally means that you will also need to pay any disbursements including court fees.

Fixed Fee

Fixed fee arrangements can be put in place when dealing with matters where the instruction is not overtly complex, the transaction can largely be dealt with procedurally and there is limited face-to-face time with the client required. They are also sometimes appropriate for a fixed phase within a transaction. This provides certainty to the client as to the costs which they will be liable for.

Damages Based Agreement

Under this type of arrangement the solicitor’s legal fees are only payable in the event that the matter is successful (as defined within the Damages Based Agreement).

The solicitor agrees to accept a percentage of the damages received in place of the usual hourly rate fees. The figure will usually include expenses and disbursements, and the percentage figure agreed usually reflects the level of risk undertaken by the solicitor.

Legal Expenses Insurance

Legal expenses insurance can be purchased to fund the costs of legal advice or the costs of bringing or defending a claim. There are 2 types of legal expenses insurance.

Before the Event (“BTE”) is a policy which provides cover for possible future legal issues. The cover protects the customer against an unforeseen legal event.

After the Event (“ATE”) is usually purchased at the point where there is a need for a solicitor to become involved. The policy is normally taken out after the cause of the dispute has arisen, to protect against the risk of having to pay your opponent’s costs and expenses if you lose the case. A premium will be payable, usually based on the insurer’s estimate of the legal costs required to bring the matter to a conclusion. It is worth noting that the insurance premium is not recoverable, even in circumstances where you are successful.

All of the above funding arragements are subject to assessment by the solicitor and being satisfied that the risk of proceeding on a funding arrangement does not outweigh the risks associated with succeeding in the claim/defence. We take each matter on a case-by-case basis and will advise which arrangement is most appropriate to the individual and their circumstances.We have over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, specializing in {specific area of expertise}. Our team of solicitors has a proven track record of successfully representing clients in {relevant cases} and we are dedicated to providing excellent legal services to our clients.