Fees
What we charge, and how
Costs are agreed in writing before we start. An invoice should never be a surprise.
How it works
How we charge
Most of our work is charged by the hour. Before we begin, we agree a scope — what we are doing and what we are not — and give you a written estimate for it.
If the work approaches that estimate, you get a call before it is exceeded, not an invoice afterwards. If the scope changes because the matter changes, we tell you what that means for the cost before we do the work.
Where the work is predictable, we fix the fee instead. Immigration applications, nuptial agreements, a contract review, an initial advice note — these have a shape we can price in advance, and we do.
Where the work is not predictable, we say so. Litigation and financial remedy proceedings are driven substantially by the other side’s conduct, and a firm that quotes a single fixed fee for a contested case is either guessing or building in a margin for the worst outcome. We will fix individual stages instead, so you can decide at each boundary whether to continue.
Rates
Our rates
Hourly rate (excluding VAT)
Principal solicitor
£400
Associate solicitor
£300
Solicitor
£250
Trainee or paralegal
£175
VAT is charged at 20% where applicable. Whether VAT applies can depend on where you are living and, in some immigration matters, on your status — we confirm the position for you before we start.
Fixed fees
Where we work to a fixed fee
Service
Fee (excluding VAT)
Strategy session — one hour with a partner, with written follow-up
£350
Settlement agreement advice (employer-funded)
Usually covered by your employer’s contribution
Immigration applications
Quoted per application — see detailed pricing
Nuptial agreement
From £[X]
Commercial contract review
From £[X]
AI inventory and risk review
From £[X]
Portfolio documentation review
From £[X]
Defamation — initial assessment and options
From £[X]
The strategy session is credited in full against your fees if you go on to instruct us.
The rest
Funding, disbursements and payment
Conditional fee arrangements
Available for some employment, discrimination and civil claims, depending on the merits. Under a conditional fee arrangement our fee is payable on a successful outcome. We will tell you at the first meeting whether your matter is one where this is realistic — it is not available in most cases, and a firm that offers it on every claim is not assessing anything.
What is not included
Our fee covers our work. It does not cover payments we make to others on your behalf — court and tribunal fees; Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge; barristers’ fees; experts’ fees; search and Land Registry fees; translation and interpreting; process servers and enforcement agents.
We set out the ones likely to apply to your matter, with figures where they are known, before you commit — so the number you see is the total, not the starting point.
Payment
We usually ask for a payment on account before starting, and we bill as the work progresses rather than in one sum at the end. Where a matter is fixed-fee, the arrangement is set out in the engagement letter.
Legal aid
We do not hold a legal aid contract. If your matter may qualify for legal aid, we will tell you and point you to the Civil Legal Advice service rather than take instructions you could fund another way.
Pro bono
We take a small number of matters without charge each year where the case merits it and the client could not otherwise be represented. We cannot promise this and we do not invite applications, but it is worth asking.
Start with a conversation
A free 20-minute call. Tell us what has happened and we will tell you whether we can help, what it would involve and roughly what it would cost.
No charge
A free 20-minute call
Tell us what has happened and we will tell you whether we can help, what it would involve and roughly what it would cost. No advice is given on this call and there is no charge for it.
£350 plus VAT
A paid strategy session
One hour with a partner, followed by a written summary of your position and options. For people who want proper advice without instructing a firm yet. Credited in full against your fees if you go on to instruct us.
Or reach us directly
We answer enquiries the same working day.