Fees

Most frequently, Scott will charge a fixed fee for each piece of work, which is agreed with the solicitor or the client before any work is undertaken.  No additional fees will be charged without prior agreement.  In all cases, professional, licensed access, and/or lay clients (as appropriate) may contact Scott to obtain a quotation for legal services.

Scott is prepared to undertake a preliminary review of paperwork, with a view to providing a quotation and/or to determine whether the substantive work required falls within his area of practice, free of charge, provided that such review is not likely to require more than 2 hours of his time.  Scott will advise the solicitor or the client, in advance of any such review, if the time necessary to complete such review is likely to require more than 2 hours of his time and the fee for such review (if any).

By charging a fixed fee, Scott will charge a set amount of money for the work that is required.  Each fixed fee is based upon either Scott’s standard hourly rate or his higher hourly rate.  Scott’s standard hourly rate is £350.00 and his higher hourly rate is £450.00.  All fees exclude VAT (if applicable).

When seeking to agree a fixed fee, Scott aims to agree a fee that is based upon his standard hourly rate, taking into consideration the work required: an Advice or other written material such as an agreement or submission, any attendance in conference, whether in person or virtually, the time necessary to read the instructions and any other material, preparation and writing time, and the complexity of the work required.

Only in the event a matter is particularly complex or urgent, will the fee be based upon Scott’s higher hourly rate, also taking into consideration those matters applicable to fees calculated at his standard hourly rate.  Scott will advise the solicitor or the client upon whether the fixed fee is calculated according to his standard hourly rate or his higher hourly rate.

Any disbursements, such as cost or expense for administration or other logistical matters, such as photocopying, bundling, couriers, travel, and/or accommodation will be payable in advance.

In all cases, Scott’s fees and any disbursements will be set out in his client care letter.

Solicitors or clients with regular or ongoing work (from day to day or week to week) of a same or similar nature (Repeat Work) will be charged a fee based upon Scott’s standard hourly rate.  Repeat Work means work comprised of 2 or more pieces of work of a same or similar nature per week or month.

Scott will not provide a continuous indication of each fee as part of Repeat Work, as to do so would not be practicable and could interrupt business flow for solicitors, clients, and Scott.  An update upon any accumulating fees as part of Repeat Work can be requested from Scott at any time.

Only where, in the ordinary course of Repeat Work, a particular piece of work is out of the ordinary compared to Repeat Work, will consideration be given to Scott’s higher hourly rate for that particular piece of work only and only in the event that particular piece of work is more complex or urgent.

Fees for continuation work, namely work of a nature that by necessity requires further work beyond the initial work (most often an agreement that passes through multiple rounds of negotiation) will be charged at the fixed fee for which the initial work was agreed, plus any additional work based upon Scott’s standard hourly rate.  The additional work will be capped in 3 hour blocks of time (3 x the standard hourly rate).  Upon the expiry of the first block of time, Scott will advise the solicitor or the client and seek to agree any further block of time necessary.