Fee Structure

The following is a general outline of the fee schedules our firm offers. Fee schedules and rates are determined on a case by case basis by the attorney reviewing the case.

Retainers

There are at least three basic types of retainers, the Refundable, Non-Refundable and Minimum Fee Retainer. Clients should clarify with the attorney with whom they consult what type of retainer he will require, and be sure that they can clearly understand the language that deals with the retainer and with compensation in general in any agreement they are asked to sign.

Refundable Retainers

A Refundable retainer is a sum of money that is tendered to the attorney to hold in-trust for the client until such funds are needed, and funds not needed are to be refunded to the client.

Nonrefundable Retainers

Nonrefundable retainers are charged depending on the complexity and difficulty of the case or nature of the service involved, the amount of research time involved, preparation time, use of research tools and extraordinary circumstances of each individual's needs.

Minimum Fee Retainers

The Minimum Fee Retainer is a sum of money tendered to the attorney, a designated part of which will not be refundable regardless of cost, but the remaining portion should be refunded if the cost does not exceed the agreed Minimum Fee.

Contingent Fee

Depending on the nature of a client’s legal needs we may take a case on a contingency basis. This means that we take a percentage of the amount paid to the client instead of billing by the hour. However, the client may have to pay an initial nonrefundable minimum fee depending on the type and complexity of the case. Contingency rates are usually one third (1/3) of the amount collected by the client.

Availability Fee

Certain tasks require the availability of the attorney for services required if and when a situation, although potentially uncertain, materializes. Preparation and availability at that time imposes opportunity costs on the firm in the form of requiring that attorneys forgo other work that would render them incapable of providing the required service at a time uncertain and under any reasonably foreseeable circumstances. In such cases, the firm charges a non-refundable fee for maintaining availability with the client’s interest as its sole priority.

Flat Fees

Depending on the nature of the case and the time involved, some services may be engaged through a flat fee. This also requires an initial nonrefundable retainer fee for processing, filing and setting up the case. Flat fees are usually reserved for routine matters where the cost of the service is a specified amount, regardless of the time or effort involved.

Hourly Fees

Most attorneys charge an hourly fee for most types of legal issues. Our hourly rates are competitive with other attorneys of comparable experience and qualification in the New York City Area.

Review of Billings

Our services are billed monthly and our bills are due upon receipt. No interest accrues during a period of 30 days. The legal rate accrues thereafter unless agreed otherwise. All invoices, whether paid or not, are deemed approved unless they are disputed within 60 days.

Payment Plans

Unless the matter involves a single appearance or task, our firm usually seeks a retainer calculated to cover a percentage of the legal fees involved, and we then allow clients not believed to be a credit risk to pay the remainder in monthly or agreed installments. For an estimate of the retainer and of payments and total cost of a matter, it will be necessary to review the matter carefully for which no charge will be assessed.

Fee Arbitration

In the event of a dispute about fees, our fee agreement or statutory requirements may provide for arbitration. Where this applies, pertinent information is available and will be provided by the firm.