Price List
Due Diligence
In order for us to comply with the requirements of The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on Payer) Regulations 2017, The Terrorism Act 2000 and The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, we must undertake due diligence on both new and existing clients. Our fees for undertaking this work are set out, below:
| Type of Entity | Our Fee | Checks Undertaken by AML Provider | Total |
| Individual or Sole Trader | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 | £60.00 including VAT |
| Partnership | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 per partner | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 per partner | £60.00 including VAT per partner |
| Limited Liability Partnership | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 per partner | £25.00 plus VAT of £5.00 per partner | £60.00 including VAT per partner |
| Limited Company | Free | N/A | Free |
| Trust | Calculated with reference to an hourly rate of £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | To be confirmed on a case-by-case basis | Case dependent |
| Unincorporated Association | Calculated with reference to an hourly rate of £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | To be confirmed on a case-by-case basis | Case dependent |
| Overseas & Other Entities | Calculated with reference to an hourly rate of £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | To be confirmed on a case-by-case basis | Case dependent |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Debt Recovery
The following fees apply to Stage 1 of the debt recovery process:
Letter Before Action, Late Payment Letter or Pre-Action Protocol Letter
| Letter Type (By Post) | Our Fee (By Post) | Total (By Post) |
| Letter Before Action (Partnerships / Limited Companies) | £10.00 plus VAT of £2.00 | £12.00 including VAT |
| Late Payment Letter (Partnerships / Limited Companies) | £30.00 plus VAT of £6.00 | £36.00 including VAT |
| Pre-Action Protocol Letter (Individuals / Sole Traders) | £50.00 plus VAT of £10.00 | £60.00 including VAT |
| Letter Type (By Post & Email) | Our Fee (By Post & Email) | Total (By Post & Email) |
| Letter Before Action (Partnerships / Limited Companies) | £30.00 plus VAT of £6.00 | £36.00 including VAT |
| Late Payment Letter (Partnerships / Limited Companies) | £50.00 plus VAT of £10.00 | £60.00 including VAT |
| Pre-Action Protocol Letter (Individuals / Sole Traders) | £75.00 plus VAT of £15.00 | £90.00 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
If your debt is disputed, a charge of £15.00 plus VAT will be payable in respect of the time we spend sending you copy correspondence and/or details of any telephone call(s) we receive from your opponent. Ad-hoc requests for further advice and/or guidance will be charged at the rate of £15.00 plus VAT per email and/or telephone call.
Letter Before Action: What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file on our computer system.
- Reading your completed Letter Before Action Form.
- Preparing a letter before action using the information provided by you on your completed Letter Before Action Form. This will be a letter based upon a basic template. It will not set out the factual background to your case.
- Sending a letter before action to your opponent by Royal Mail First Class post.
- File closing and archiving.
Letter Before Action: What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your completed Letter Before Action Form.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Late Payment Letter: What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file on our computer system.
- Reading your completed Late Payment Letter Form.
- Preparing a late payment letter using the information provided by you on your completed Late Payment Letter Form. This will be a letter based upon a basic template. It will not set out the factual background to your case.
- Sending a late payment letter to your opponent by Royal Mail First Class post.
- File closing and archiving.
Late Payment Letter: What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your completed Late Payment Letter Form.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Pre-Action Protocol Letter: What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file on our computer system.
- Reading your completed Pre-Action Protocol Letter Form.
- Preparing a pre-action protocol letter using the information provided by you on your completed Pre-Action Protocol Letter Form. This will be a letter based upon a basic template. It will not set out the factual background to your case.
- Sending a pre-action protocol letter to your opponent by Royal Mail First Class post.
- File closing and archiving.
Pre-Action Protocol Letter: What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your completed Pre-Action Protocol Letter Form.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
We will aim to process your request for a letter before action, late payment letter or pre-action protocol letter the same day, provided that your instructions reach us by 4.00pm and that day is a business day.
The following fees apply to Stage 2 of the debt recovery process:
Court Action
| Debt Amount | Our Fee | Court Fee | Total |
| Up to £300.00 | £100.00 plus VAT of £20.00 | £35.00 (no VAT payable) | £155.00 including VAT |
| £300.01 to £500.00 | £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | £50.00 (no VAT payable) | £230.00 including VAT |
| £500.01 to £1,000.00 | £200.00 plus VAT of £40.00 | £70.00 (no VAT payable) | £310.00 including VAT |
| £1,000.01 to £1,500.00 | £250.00 plus VAT of £50.00 | £80.00 (no VAT payable) | £380.00 including VAT |
| £1,500.01 to £3,000.00 | £300.00 plus VAT of £60.00 | £115.00 (no VAT payable) | £475.00 including VAT |
| £3,000.01 to £5,000.00 | £350.00 plus VAT of £70.00 | £205.00 (no VAT payable) | £625.00 including VAT |
| £5,000.01 to £10,000.00 | £400.00 plus VAT of £80.00 | £455.00 (no VAT payable) | £935.00 including VAT |
| £10,000.01 to £15,000.00 | £500.00 plus VAT of £100.00 | 5% of value of debt* (no VAT payable) | Case dependent |
| £15,000.01 to £50,000.00 | £750.00 plus VAT of £150.00 | 5% of value of debt* (no VAT payable) | Case dependent |
| £50,000.01 to £100,000.00 | £1,000.00 plus VAT of £200.00 | 5% of value of debt* (no VAT payable) | Case dependent |
*Plus 5% of any fees claimed pursuant to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2002, as amended by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 and interest pursuant to Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984.
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file.
- Asking you to provide us with copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Reading your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Preparing a claim form based upon a basic template and issuing it in the County Court Business Centre.
- Notifying you if/when judgment becomes available.
What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Dealing with an acknowledgment of service.
- Dealing with a defence and/or counterclaim.
- Dealing with any application made by your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Preparation for and representation at any court hearing.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
We will aim to process your request to issue court action the same day, provided that your instructions reach us by 4.00pm and that day is a business day.
The following fees apply to Stage 3 of the debt recovery process:
Judgment & Enforcement Action
| Debt Amount | Our Fee | Court Fee | Total |
| Up to £300.00 | £75.00 plus VAT of £15.00 | £91.00 (no VAT payable) | £181.00 including VAT |
| £300.01 to £599.99 | £75.00 plus VAT of £15.00 | £91.00 (no VAT payable) | £181.00 including VAT |
| £600.00 to £1,000.00 | £100.00 plus VAT of £20.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £198.00 including VAT |
| £1,000.01 to £1,500.00 | £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £258.00 including VAT |
| £1,500.01 to £3,000.00 | £200.00 plus VAT of £40.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £318.00 including VAT |
| £3,000.01 to £5,000.00 | £250.00 plus VAT of £50.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £378.00 including VAT |
| £5,000.01 to £15,000.00 | £300.00 plus VAT of £60.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £438.00 including VAT |
| £15,000.01 to £50,000.00 | £350.00 plus VAT of £70.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £498.00 including VAT |
| £50,000.01 to £100,000.00 | £500.00 plus VAT of £100.00 | £78.00 (no VAT payable) | £678.00 including VAT |
For debts over £100,000.00, please contact us for a costs estimate.
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
What Is Included?
- Asking you to provide us with details of any payments received.
- Reading an updated statement of account.
- Preparing a request for judgment and submitting it to the County Court Business Centre.
- Sending you a copy of the request for judgment.
- Making application for a warrant of control or instructing a high court enforcement officer to apply for a writ of control.
What Is Not Included?
- Reading any documents other than an updated statement of account.
- Sending you a copy of any judgment order.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Dealing with any application made by your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Preparation for and representation at any court hearing.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
An abortive fee of £90.00 including VAT will be payable (in addition to the above charges) where a High Court Enforcement Officer is unable to recover your debt.
We provide costs estimates for other methods of enforcement action on a case-by-case basis.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
In the event that your opponent wishes to make payment, we will ask that all payments are sent to you directly. If, however, we are required to process payment, a charge of £15.00 plus VAT will be payable in respect of the time we spend remitting funds to you.
We will aim to process your request to enter judgment and commence enforcement action the same day, provided that your instructions reach us by 4.00pm and that day is a business day.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Where a claim or proposed claim is disputed or where a case is particularly complicated, our fixed hourly rate of £150.00 plus VAT will apply. No work on disputed cases will be undertaken until we have provided you with a costs estimate and obtained your prior authority to proceed.
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Insolvency Law
The following fees apply to the various stages of the insolvency law process:
Drafting & Serving A Statutory Demand
| Our Fee | £500.00 plus VAT of £100.00 |
| Process Server Fee (Estimated) | £100.00 plus VAT of £20.00 |
| Total (Estimated) | £720.00 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Where we have indicated that a third party fee is estimated, it is because different disbursement providers often charge different fees. We will always endeavour to obtain your approval before incurring a third party fee.
What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file.
- Asking you to provide us with copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Reading your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Preparing a statutory demand and sending it to a process server for service upon your opponent.
- Notifying you if/when service has been effected.
- Notifying you if/when you are in a position to issue a bankruptcy petition.
What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Dealing with any application made by your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Preparation for and representation at any court hearing.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Presenting A Bankruptcy Petition
| Our Fee | £1,500.00 plus VAT of £300.00 |
| Court Fee | £332.00 (no VAT payable) |
| Official Receiver Fee | £1,500.00 (no VAT payable) |
| Process Server Fee (Estimated) | £100.00 plus VAT of £20.00 |
| Advocate Fee (Estimated) | £500.00 plus VAT of £100.00 |
| Total (Estimated) | £4,352.00 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Where we have indicated that a third party fee is estimated, it is because different disbursement providers often charge different fees. We will always endeavour to obtain your approval before incurring a third party fee.
What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file.
- Asking you to provide us with copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Reading your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Preparing a bankruptcy petition, issuing it in the appropriate county court and/or division of the high court and sending it to a process server for service upon your opponent.
- Notifying you if/when service has been effected.
- Instructing an advocate to represent you at the initial hearing of the bankruptcy petition.
What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Dealing with any application made by your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Preparation for and representation at any court hearing other than the initial hearing of the bankruptcy petition.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Sending A Pre-Winding Up Letter
| Our Fee | £250.00 plus VAT £50.00 |
| Total | £300.00 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file on our computer system.
- Asking you to provide us with copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Reading your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Preparing a pre-winding up letter using the information provided by you. This will be a letter based upon a basic template. It will not set out the factual background to your case.
- Sending a pre-winding up letter to your opponent by Royal Mail First Class post.
- File closing and archiving.
What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Any advice regarding any changes in the law, which may have an impact upon your case.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Presenting A Winding Up Petition
| Our Fee | £1,500.00 plus VAT of £300.00 |
| Court Fee | £332.00 (no VAT payable) |
| Process Server Fee (Estimated) | £100.00 plus VAT of £20.00 |
| London Gazette Fee | £119.15 plus VAT of £23.83 |
| Official Receiver Fee | £2,600.00 (no VAT payable) |
| Advocate Fee (Estimated) | £750.00 plus VAT £150.00 |
| Total (Estimated) | £5,894.98 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Where we have indicated that a third party fee is estimated, it is because different disbursement providers often charge different fees. We will always endeavour to obtain your approval before incurring a third party fee.
What Is Included?
- Due diligence of UK-based limited companies.
- Opening a file.
- Asking you to provide us with copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Reading your copy invoices and statement of account.
- Preparing a winding up petition, issuing it in the appropriate county court and/or division of the high court and sending it to a process server for service upon your opponent.
- Notifying you if/when service has been effected.
- Instructing an advocate to represent you at the initial hearing of the winding up petition.
What Is Not Included?
- Due diligence of individuals, sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trusts, unincorporated associations, overseas and other entities.
- Reading any documents other than your copy invoices and a statement of account.
- Any analysis of your case and your prospects of success.
- Investigating your opponent’s financial circumstances and/or ability to pay you.
- Dealing with e-mail and/or letter correspondence from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Telephone calls to and/or from you, your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Processing any payments.
- Dealing with any ad-hoc requests for further information and/or guidance.
- Monitoring the progress of your case or asking you for updates.
- Dealing with any application made by your opponent and/or any other third party.
- Preparation for and representation at any court hearing other than the initial hearing of the winding up petition.
- Any other work not specifically referred to above.
Work that is not included will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work.
Debtor Tracing
The following fees apply to our debtor tracing service:
| Type of Trace | Our Fee | Tracing Agent Fee (Estimated) | Total (Estimated) |
| Standard Trace | £50.00 plus VAT of £10.00 | £35.00 plus VAT of £7.00 | £102.00 including VAT |
| Enhanced Trace | £75.00 plus VAT of £15.00 | £150.00 plus VAT of £30.00 | £270.00 including VAT |
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT-registered businesses. We are a VAT-registered business (VAT Number: 139 0861 04) and VAT is payable by you on the products and/or services we supply. VAT may also be payable by you on certain disbursements (expenses) we pay on your behalf in order to progress your case. The current rate of VAT is 20%. The VAT element of our fee and those disbursements attracting VAT cannot be reclaimed from your opponent.
Any Other Services
Any other services we provide to you, which are not set out above will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner and/or member of staff that undertakes the work.
Funding Your Case
As a firm, the only type of funding we will accept is private funding. This amounts to you taking sole responsibility for the payment of our fees. There are, however, a number of other methods of funding a legal case and it is your responsibility to investigate such other methods if you do not wish to pay us to deal with your matter.
Examples of other methods of funding include before and after the event insurance, conditional fee agreements, contingency fee arrangements and legal aid, although this is not available for businesses.
How Much Will It Cost?
Our Debt Recovery Service and our Insolvency Law Service are based upon a fixed fee pricing structure and this document must be read in conjunction with our Price List, our Client Care Information Sheet and our Terms & Conditions of Business. Our Commercial Dispute Resolution Service is based upon the prevailing hourly rate of the lawyer and/or fee earner that undertakes the work. As every dispute is different, it is very difficult to provide an estimate of the total costs you are likely to incur in dealing with your case. However, you should take steps to budget for costs that may amount to a minimum of 50% to 100% of the aggregate financial value of the dispute. The costs you incur may be higher than usual if your case is particularly complex and/or takes a long time to reach a conclusion and/or if your opponent is difficult and/or unreasonable. This is common in cases where an opponent does not have legal representation and is acting as a litigant in person.
Recovery Of Costs & Liability For Costs
At the conclusion of your matter and in the event that you are successful, it may be that you are entitled to recover some of your costs from your opponent. Although we will endeavour to maximise your recovery of costs, if the costs are not agreed as a result of a settlement, the court will assess what costs you are able to recover. The court will usually reduce the amount of costs claimed significantly. Therefore, you must be aware that it is unlikely that you will recover the full amount of costs that we have billed you. Indeed, there may be a significant shortfall.
With effect from 1 October 2023, a new, fixed recoverable costs regime will apply to the vast majority of claims valued up to £100,000.00. In most cases, this means that you will only be able to recover a fixed amount of costs from your opponent, even if you win your case. The rules relating to fixed costs are set out in Part 45 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (“the CPR”) and the specific amounts of fixed recoverable costs appear in tables set out in Practice Direction 45 of the CPR. Both Part 45 of the CPR and Practice Direction 45 of the CPR can be viewed at www.justice.gov.uk and it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with their provisions.
As previously stated, the amount we bill you is likely to far exceed the fixed costs recoverable under the new regime, which has been introduced by the Ministry of Justice. For this reason, you may wish to consider making your opponent an early offer of settlement or alternatively consider a method of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. As a result of the new, fixed recoverable costs regime, there are likely to be very few occasions on which it will make good financial sense to progress your case all the way to a trial.
Before embarking on litigation, it is important that you are aware of the risks involved should you lose your case. You will not only be unable to recover the costs you have incurred but you will also be liable to pay your opponent’s costs, which could mirror or exceed your own. Any costs awarded against you will usually be payable within 14 days.
How Long Will It Take?
Where it is possible to resolve your case without the need for court proceedings, your matter may take 1 to 12 months to reach a conclusion.
Where it is not possible to resolve your case without the need for court proceedings, your matter may take 12 to 24 months to reach a conclusion.
In exceptional circumstances, your case may take longer than 24 months to reach a conclusion.
What Risks Are Involved?
A number of risks are involved in threatening, bringing and defending court proceedings. The most common risks are, as follows:
- That you will lose your case.
- That your opponent will issue a counterclaim and/or free standing retaliatory legal action against you.
- That you will incur significant costs, which you may not get back, if it is not possible to achieve a compromise with your opponent.
- That you may have to pay your opponent’s costs (as set out above).
- That the matter will take a considerable amount of time to resolve if it is not possible to achieve a compromise with your opponent.
- That your opponent will become insolvent, either during litigation or as a result of it.
- That your opponent will not have sufficient assets to pay any judgment we obtain on your behalf.
- That you and/or your organisation will become insolvent, either during litigation or as a result of it. Insolvency can mean bankruptcy for individuals and liquidation for limited companies.
At all times during the legal process, you must take steps to ensure that:
- The costs you are incurring are proportionate to the outcome you are seeking to achieve.
- You have sufficient funding in place to pursue your case.
- You are able to devote the time and energy to your case that it requires.
- You monitor the financial position of your opponent closely.
Who Will Work On Your Case?
You can find out who will work on your case by visiting the Meet the Team page on our website.