Private Fees

All our fees are based on a ‘fixed fee’ basis. This means that the fee quoted is a fixed cost for the work agreed.

All rates detailed will attract additional VAT at the present rate of 20%.

We ensure that the funding of your case is cost-efficient and transparent. We understand that the costs of your case will be important to you and we will always agree the costs with you by gaining an understanding of you, your case and the work involved. In accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Transparency Rules, we have set out a breakdown of our standard charges for the type of work you may require. It is possible that there may be other costs that you would need to incur in addition to our fees and we aim to provide information of those. Our aim is to enable you to have a good understanding of what the overall costs may be.

When instructing us on a fixed fee basis, you are obligated to pay us the full amount that we have agreed prior to the work being undertaken. Irrespective of whether the actual matter goes ahead, or the work required is less than originally quoted for, this fee is non-refundable. For example, if we agree to undertake a trial, but the matter resolves prior to that, the fixed fee is non-refundable.

 

TIME ESTIMATE

How long a case takes depends on the amount of work involved. A criminal case can often end up taking quite a different shape from that envisaged at the time when it starts. Accordingly, it can be difficult at this early stage to give you an accurate prediction of the time it will take to conclude.

In cases where a case is dealt with at a single hearing the whole case is usually completed on that day. However, each case is different, and we cannot provide a precise timescale of how long each key stage will take or when hearings will take place, as this depends on many factors such as the complexity of the matter and court listings.   Based on our vast experience, we would expect matters to generally follow the below timetable:

• Police Station Case 3-6 Months (although more serious cases can take longer than 12 months)
• Magistrates Court (Guilty Plea) 1-2 Months Magistrates Court (Not Guilty Plea) 3-6 Months
• Crown Court (General Cases) 3-12 Months Crown Court (Serious Cases) Up to 24 Months’

Time frames change based on the adherence of all parties to timetables and attendance of witnesses and court time available. As matters progress, we should be in a better position to advise you of the likely timeframe

POLICE STATION FEES

If a client wishes to instruct the firm and/or a particular partner or lawyer in advance of arrest and interview we are happy to assist. Our fees will include meetings prior and after attending the Police Station, proactive work to assist your case and other preparation and proactive work in relation to trying to get your case dropped.

Our fees range from £500 plus VAT for a 2 hour meeting, up to £1,000 plus VAT for 4 hours.

In order to attend the Police Station with you privately, we can usually agree on a fixed fee from £500 to £2,000 plus VAT depending on the location and complexity. We can meet with you before and after attendance at the Police Station. Our Lawyers are experts and can make a big difference to the outcome.

If you have already been represented by another firm in interview and you have been Bailed to Return or Released Under Investigation, we are also able to assist on a private basis in chasing the police for an outcome. This may involve further interviews, frequent contact with the police or investigating authority and the firm originally instructed. Depending on the complexity of the case our fees would range between £500 to £1,500 plus VAT.

MAGISTRATES COURT

Whilst every case is different and personal to each client, our average fee for a one day summary (Magistrates Court) trial is between £1200- £5000 plus VAT. Exact fees may of course change depending on the complexity or simplicity of any given case; or indeed the experience of the solicitor or barrister instructed.

Our fees for single hearings in the Magistrates Court (usually involving a pre court meeting with one of our lawyers) would typically range from £500- £1500 plus VAT, again dependent upon complexity and the seniority of counsel. If it is likely a further hearing will be required, then our fees may vary.

We can only provide a realistic estimate once we have assessed the Prosecution evidence, if available in advance, or from our substantial experience in dealing with similar cases.

CROWN COURT

Crown court matters are of course often more serious, complex and difficult to predict. Some jury trials last only a few days whilst others may take months to conclude.

Our fees, as with our lower court fees, will always reflect the amount of work involved, the complexity of the case and the seniority of counsel. All Crown Court cases require hearings before trial and detailed instructions to be taken from the client.

Representation at trial, based upon a 2-3 day time estimate, including a conference with both solicitor and counsel and potentially further hearings concerning bail, sentence or case management would range at approximately £5,000 plus VAT to £20,000 plus VAT depending on choice of counsel.

For single hearings where for example a plea is entered and mitigation advanced (with a pre court conference) our fees would typically range from £2,000 - £5,000 plus VAT, again, dependent upon choice of counsel.

The above fees as stated are subject to the nature and complexity of the charge and the amount of evidence involved and the barrister instructed. Please contact a member of our team who will be happy to discuss these with you.

CAN I RECOVER ANY OF MY PRIVATE FEES?

Where a defendant is successful (i.e. he is not convicted of the offence(s) he faces) he can apply for reimbursement of his defence costs.  This is known as a Defendant’s Costs Order. If successful, the costs are paid from public funds. The rules state that where a defendant is successful ‘A defendant’s costs order should normally be made unless there are positive reasons for not doing so, for example, where the defendant’s own conduct has brought suspicion on himself and has misled the prosecution into thinking that the case against him was stronger than it was.’ Where a defendant faces multiple charges and is convicted of some but not others, the court can still award costs in relation to those matters that were not proved.

The sting in the tail here is that, even if the application is successful, the costs that can be recovered are limited to legal fees and these fees, in turn, are capped at Legal Aid rates. For this reason, it is extremely unusual for an acquitted defendant who has been paying privately for his defence to recover the costs of successfully defending himself, let alone for his lost earnings or otherwise for time spent preparing his case. In addition, only individuals (as opposed to companies and other organisations) can recover these limited defence costs in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court.

Finally, to be able to receive defence costs in the crown court, the defendant must have applied for legal aid, and then be determined to be ineligible to receive it. That's right - without a determination of ineligibility for legal aid, no costs can be recovered in the event of an acquittal. The recoverable costs will be less than 20%.