Price Transparency

Sections:

We are committed to providing the best possible costs information to you at every stage of your instruction to us. We will also consider and discuss with you what the best costs arrangement is, and what different costs bases we might be able to offer to you. Together, we will ensure that you are able to take informed, strategic decisions about all aspects of the matter, which will include the best information we can provide about costs and potential future costs.

Before we can act for you, we will ask you for documentation which confirms your identity, and we will ask for evidence of where funds which you propose to use for any transaction are coming from. When we engage you, we will tell you who will work on your matter and what their qualifications are. Details of all our staff can be found on our website at www.nexussolicitors.co.uk.

Whenever we provide a costs estimate to you, it will be our indication of the likely fee for carrying out a specified piece of work. It will be based on the information available to us at that time and will be given in good faith. It will be subject to revision and does not amount to a binding or contractual commitment to carry out the piece of work for that cost. We will tell you as soon as we can if it becomes apparent that an estimate which we have given is likely to be exceeded, and will agree with you the best way forward.

In some circumstances, we might be able to give a quotation or agree a fixed fee. That must be agreed in writing, and we will set out what work is included and any restrictions on the quote. If however there is any change to the information provided to us when our quote is given, we reserve the right to revise it appropriately. In particular, we reserve the right to charge additional fees for material additional work arising from circumstances known to you when our quotation was agreed, but which were not disclosed to us, or which are materially different to those envisaged when we gave our quotation.

All fee estimates and quotes which we give are subject to Value Added Tax at the prevailing rate where applicable. The prevailing rate of VAT is currently 20%.

Our engagement letter will give you details of the charging rate of the people who will be handling your work. Unless we have agreed a quotation, fixed fee or some other arrangement with you, our charges will be calculated by reference to the time which our professional staff spend dealing with the matter. In certain circumstances, such as where a matter is particularly complicated, has to be carried out very quickly, or has to be carried out in an inconvenient location, we reserve the right to invoice at an enhanced rate. That will only happen with your prior agreement. Our hourly rates are revised and can be increased from time to time (usually annually).

We are committed to transparency in connection with fees. We are happy to provide you with details of how any time recorded on a matter has been spent, and a breakdown of how any fees have been calculated.

Conveyancing Fees

No two property transactions are the same, but we have set out some guidance on typical ranges of fees below. Different fees apply for different types of transaction, and they will also depend on the value of the property. We understand that property transactions can seem to take a long time, and there are many reasons for that. We do all we can to move things forward as quickly as we can, but it will always be important that key information is obtained as part of the process, and that can cause delay. Also, there can be delay where we encounter issues, for instance if we find that the title is defective, part of the property is unregistered, building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained or crucial documents are not provided.

1. Purchase of a FREEHOLD Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales (we cannot assist with transactions in Scotland). Please note that it is our standard

practice to insist on meeting you in person as part of the transaction. If we have to meet you somewhere other than our office, an additional charge is likely to be incurred.

As well as our costs, there will be “disbursements” which are additional costs related to the transaction which are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. Whilst we handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf, we will usually ask you to put us in funds in advance.

Assuming a purchase price of £195,000.00, and with no unforeseen complications, the typical range of our fees and other charges (“disbursements”) is as follows:

	Fees	VAT	Total
Our charges	£950.00	£190.00	£1,140.00
Search fees	Up to £300.00	£60.00	Up to £360.00
HM Land Registry Fee	Up to £275.00	£NIL	Up to £275.00
CHAPS fee	£35.00	£7.00	£42.00
Sub-Total			Up to £1,817.00

Please note that:

(a) The figure given for Search fees is an average – the amount could be higher or lower;

(b) HM Land Registry fees depend on the nature of the Property, and whether the title is registered or not, and can range from £135.00 to £540.00;

(c) The CHAPS fee applies per payment. If you prefer, electronic payments can be sent by BACS, for which our fee is £15.00 plus VAT per transfer.

The rate of VAT is currently 20%.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase) is also payable. The amount payable depends on the purchase price of your property, whether you have owned a property before, whether you are a UK resident, and what, if any, other properties you own (which might include properties which you own abroad). This is a tax, and it is payable in addition to the costs mentioned above. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website here. At the present time, and by way of illustration (with an assumed purchase price of £195,000.00), the following would be payable:-

· First Time Buyer £NIL

· Standard One Property Owner £NIL

· Multiple Properties Owner £5,850.00

The fees for a purchase of a freehold property with a purchase price of £195,000.00 are therefore likely to be in the range of £1,817.00 to £7,667.00.

Our fees will be greater if the property has a higher purchase price:

Price of Property	Our fee	Our fee including VAT
Up to £200,000	£950.00 plus VAT	£1,140.00
£201,000 to £300,000	£1,100.00 plus VAT	£1,320.00
£301,000 to £400,000	£1,250.00 plus VAT	£1,500.00
£401,000 to £500,000	£1,400.00 plus VAT	£1,680.00
£501,000 to £600,000	£1,550.00 plus VAT	£1,860.00
Over £600,000	0.25% of the sale price plus VAT	TBC

Please bear in mind that the amount of Stamp Duty Land Tax is also likely to increase with a higher purchase price.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. Typically, the transaction might involve:

· Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice;

· Checking that finances are in place to fund the purchase and contacting lender’s solicitors if needed;

· Receiving and advising on contract documents;

· Carrying out searches;

· Obtaining further planning documentation if required;

· Making any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor;

· Giving you advice on all documents and information received;

· Going through conditions of any mortgage offer with you;

· Sending final contract to you for signature;

· Agreeing completion date (date from which you own the property);

· Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened;

· Arranging for all monies needed to be received from any lender and from you;

· Completing purchase;

· Dealing with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax;

· Dealing with application for registration at Land Registry

How long the transaction will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 to 12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 14 weeks. If you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months (and in such a situation additional charges would apply). We will always do what we can to make the transaction happen as quickly as you require.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FEES SET OUT ABOVE ARE AS AT 1st JANUARY 2024 AND ASSUME A PURCHASE PRICE OF £195,000. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH DETAILS OF YOUR PROPOSED TRANSACTION FOR AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE OR A QUOTE.

2. Purchase of a LEASEHOLD Residential Property

Our fees cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property is in Wales. Please note that it is our standard practice to insist on meeting you in person as part of the transaction. If we have to meet you elsewhere, an additional fee is likely to be incurred.

Assuming a purchase price of £195,000.00, and with no unforeseen complications, the typical range of our fees and other charges (“disbursements”) is as follows:

	Fees	VAT	Total
Our charges	£1,295.00	£259.00	£1,554.00
Search fees	Up to £300.00	£60.00	Up to £360.00
HM Land Registry Fee	Up to £270.00	£NIL	Up to £270.00
CHAPS fee	£35.00	£7.00	£42.00
Sub-Total			Up to £2,226.00

Please note that:

(a) The figure given for search fees is an average – the amount could be higher or lower.

(b) HM Land Registry fees depend on the nature of the Property, including whether or not the title is registered.

(c) The CHAPS fee applies per payment. If you prefer, electronic payments can be sent by BACS, for which our fee is £15.00 plus VAT per payment,

Where the purchase is of a leasehold interest, there are other potential charges:

Item	Fee	Comment
Notice of Transfer	£75.00 to £295.00 plus VAT	This fee is chargeable if set out in the lease; the amount is outside our control and will depend on the terms of the lease.
Notice of Charge	£75.00 to £295.00 plus VAT	This might be payable if the property is to be mortgaged, and if set out in the lease (the amount will depend on the terms of the lease).
Deed of Covenant	£150.00 to £300.00 plus VAT	This fee is charged by the management company for the property.
Certificate of Compliance	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	If required, the amount can be confirmed upon receipt of the lease.

Please note that these fees vary from property to property, and they can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents. You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.

Stamp Duty Land Tax is also payable, and depends on the purchase price of your property and your circumstances. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website. At the present time, and by way of illustration (with an assumed purchase price of £195,000.00), the following would be payable:-

• First Time Buyer £NIL

• Standard One Property Owner £NIL

• Multiple Properties Owner £5,850.00

The fees for a purchase of a leasehold property with a purchase price of £195,000.00 are therefore likely to be in the range of £2,226.00 to £8,075.00.

Our fees will be greater if the property has a higher purchase price:

The fees for a purchase of a freehold property with a purchase price of £195,000.00 are therefore likely to be in the range of £1,817.00 to £7,667.00. Our fees will be greater if the property has a higher purchase price:

Price of Property	Our fee	Our fee including VAT
Up to £200,000	£1,295.00 plus VAT	£1,554.00
£201,000 to £300,000	£1,445.00 plus VAT	£1,734.00
£301,000 to £400,000	£1,595.00 plus VAT	£1,914.00
£401,000 to £500,000	£1,745.00 plus VAT	£2,094.00
£501,000 to £600,000	£1,895.00 plus VAT	£2,274.00
Over £600,000	0.25% of the sale price plus VAT	TBC

Please bear in mind that the amount of Stamp Duty Land Tax is also likely to increase with a higher purchase price.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. Below we have suggested some key stages that you will need to be aware of:

· Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice;

· Checking finances are in place to fund purchase and contacting any lender’s solicitors if needed;

· Receiving and advising on contract documents;

· Carrying out searches;

· Obtaining further planning documentation if required;

· Making any necessary enquiries of the seller’s solicitor;

· Giving you advice on all documents and information received;

· Going through conditions of any mortgage offer;

· Sending a final contract to you for signature;

· Drafting the Transfer;

· Advising you on joint ownership;

· Obtaining pre-completion searches;

· Agreeing a completion date (date from which you own the property);

· Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened;

· Arranging for all monies needed to be received from any lender and you;

· Completing purchase;

· Dealing with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax;

· Dealing with application for registration at Land Registry.

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors, not all of which we can control or influence. The average process takes between 6 to 10 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 14 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months and in such, a situation additional charges would apply. We will always do what we can to make the transaction happen as quickly as you require.

Please also note that the fee illustration assumes that:

a. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction;

b. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease;

c. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise;

d. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation;

e. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

3. Sale of a FREEHOLD Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, including dealing with any appointed estate agent to ensure a smooth process. We will also liaise with any mortgage provider, in connection with the redemption of any mortgage over the Property. As well as our costs, there will be “disbursements” which are additional costs related to the transaction which are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry copy entries. Whilst we handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf, we will usually ask you to put us in funds in advance.

Assuming a sale price of £195,000.00, and with no unforeseen complications, the typical range of our fees and other charges (“disbursements”) is as follows:

	Fees	VAT	Total
Our charges	£750.00	£150.00	£900.00
HM Land Registry Office Copy Entries	Up to £30.00	£NIL	Up to £30.00
CHAPS fee	£35.00	£7.00	£42.00
Sub-Total			Up to £972.00

Please note that the CHAPS fee applies per payment. If you prefer, electronic payments can be sent by BACS, for which our fee is £15.00 plus VAT per transfer.

Our fees will be greater if the property has a higher sale price:

Price of Property	Our fee	Our fee including VAT
Up to £200,000	£750.00 plus VAT	£900.00
£201,000 to £300,000	£900.00 plus VAT	£1,080.00
£301,000 to £400,000	£1,050.00 plus VAT	£1,260.00
£401,000 to £500,000	£1,200.00 plus VAT	£1,440.00
£501,000 to £600,000	£1,350.00 plus VAT	£1,620.00
Over £600,000	0.25% of the sale price plus VAT	TBC

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. Typically, the transaction might involve:

· Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice;

· Obtaining title documents;

· Preparing and advising on contract documents;

· Responding to any legal enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor;

· Agreeing a Transfer Deed and dealing with any pre-completion enquiries;

· Giving you advice on all documents and information received;

· Sending final contract to you for signature;

· Agreeing completion date (date from which you no longer own the property);

· Exchanging contracts and procuring the receipt of any deposit from the buyer;

· Completing purchase;

· Dealing with any mortgage redemption and accounting to you for the proceeds of sale;

How long the transaction will take will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 to 10 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are selling to a first time buyer with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. If you are selling to a buyer who needs to secure funding, and who has a dependent sale, it take significantly longer. We will always do what we can to make the transaction happen as quickly as you require.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FEES SET OUT ABOVE ARE AS AT 1st JANUARY 2024 AND ASSUME A SALE PRICE OF £195,000. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH DETAILS OF YOUR PROPOSED TRANSACTION FOR AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE OR A QUOTE.

4. Sale of a LEASEHOLD Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, including dealing with any appointed estate agent to ensure a smooth process. We will also liaise with any management company or ground rent collector, as well as any mortgage provider, in connection with the redemption of any mortgage over the Property. As well as our costs, there will be “disbursements” which are additional costs related to the transaction which are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry copy entries or fees payable to management companies etc. Whilst we handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf, we will usually ask you to put us in funds in advance.

Assuming a sale price of £195,000.00, and with no unforeseen complications, the typical range of our fees and other charges (“disbursements”) is as follows:

	Fees	VAT	Total
Our charges	£750.00	£150.00	£900.00
HM Land Registry Office Copy Entries	Up to £30.00	£NIL	Up to £30.00
CHAPS fee	£35.00	£7.00	£42.00
Sub-Total			Up to £972.00

Please note that the CHAPS fee applies per payment. If you prefer, electronic payments can be sent by BACS, for which our fee is £15.00 plus VAT per transfer.

There might be disbursements payable, most of which will depend on the terms of the lease, which can include the following:

Item	Fee	Comment
Management Pack fee	£80.00 to £400.00 plus VAT	This is more likely to be incurred if your property is a flat/apartment.
Ground Rent Pack fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This is quite likely in a leasehold transaction.
Certificate of Compliance	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This will be required if a restriction is placed on your property. This will usually require a certain clause of the lease to be complied with and proof shown before the certificate can be issued.
Licence to Assign fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This might be needed for the management company to assign to the new buyer and release you of your leasehold obligations.
Management Pack fee	£80.00 to £400.00 plus VAT	This is more likely to be required if your property is a flat/apartment
Ground Rent Pack fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This can often be required in relation to a leasehold flat or house.

Our fee assumes that there are no unforeseen circumstances, and that (for instance) there is no defect in the title which requires to be remedied, that you are assigning an existing lease, that all parties to the transaction are cooperative and that there is no unreasonable delay from any third party. It also assumes that no indemnity policies are required (there would be a cost payable for one if it was required).

Our fees will be greater if the property has a higher sale price:

Item	Fee	Comment
Management Pack fee	£80.00 to £400.00 plus VAT	This is more likely to be incurred if your property is a flat/apartment.
Ground Rent Pack fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This is quite likely in a leasehold transaction.
Certificate of Compliance	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This will be required if a restriction is placed on your property. This will usually require a certain clause of the lease to be complied with and proof shown before the certificate can be issued.
Licence to Assign fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This might be needed for the management company to assign to the new buyer and release you of your leasehold obligations.
Management Pack fee	£80.00 to £400.00 plus VAT	This is more likely to be required if your property is a flat/apartment
Ground Rent Pack fee	£50.00 to £200.00 plus VAT	This can often be required in relation to a leasehold flat or house.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. Typically, the transaction might involve:

· Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice;

· Obtaining title documents;

· Preparing and advising on contract documents;

· Responding to any legal enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor;

· Inspecting and dealing with any leasehold restrictions placed upon the property;

· Supplying information on the management company for extra documentation to be sent after completion;

· Agreeing a Transfer Deed and dealing with any pre-completion enquiries;

· Giving you advice on all documents and information received;

· Sending final contract to you for signature;

· Agreeing any apportionment figures for ground rent/service charge;

· Agreeing completion date (date from which you no longer own the property);

· Exchanging contracts and procuring the receipt of any deposit from the buyer;

· Completing purchase;

· Dealing with any mortgage redemption and accounting to you for the proceeds of sale;

Our Property Team

Your transaction will be handled by a member of our property team. Des O’Driscoll is the department head, and is an experienced solicitor and a Director of the firm. Jessica Hall is an experienced Consultant solicitor. They are assisted by Gabriella Knowles and Leanne Henegan. More information about each of them can be found on our website.

Business Debt Recovery Claims up to £100,000

The costs illustrations below apply where the claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed. The costs illustrations will also generally not apply where a claim is complex, and where damages are potentially recoverable.

Pre-Litigation Costs

The fees below relate to work one prior to the issue of proceedings. All fees mentioned are net of VAT, the current rate of which is 20%.

Task	Small Claims Track (claim up to £10,000)	Fast Track Claim (claim between £10,000 and £25,000)	Multi Track Claim (claim over £25,000)
Letter before action	£250.00 plus VAT	£325.00 plus VAT	£350.00 plus VAT
Pre-issue negotiations	£200.00 plus VAT	£275.00 plus VAT	Hourly rate plus VAT

Issuing Proceedings

Whilst we always endeavour to achieve a successful outcome without the need to issue proceedings, this will not always be possible. The fees below will be incurred, and are in addition to those mentioned above, in the event that proceedings cannot be avoided.

Debt Value	Court fee	Our fee	Total
Up to £5,000	Up to £205 (no VAT)	£250.00 plus VAT	Up to £505.00 (including VAT)
£5,001 to £10,000	Up to £455 (no VAT)	£500.00 plus VAT	Up to £1,055.00 (including VAT)
£10,001 to £100,000	5% value of the claim	Hourly rate plus VAT	To be advised on instruction

Our hourly rates depend on the level of seniority of the person who handles the matter on your behalf and the value of your claim. The current hourly rates for our dispute resolution team are £125 plus VAT for an apprentice/paralegal, and £200 to £295 plus VAT for a director. Where we charge by reference to our hourly rate, the number of hours required will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the matter and the approach taken by the other party. By way of general guidance only, if the matter proves straightforward and is not contested, it might only require up to 5 hours to conclude. In the most complicated cases, and assuming the matter proceeded to a final contested hearing, it could involve anything between 50 and 100 hours. We will though give you estimates of costs in all Fast Track and Multi Track matters upon receipt of your papers.

Where a case proceeds to a contested hearing, there will also be further disbursements incurred. They will include a Court hearing fee (which depends on the value of the claim, and which will be between £25 for a small claims track claim with a value of up to £300 to £1,090 for a multi-track claim, and a fee for an advocate to appear on your behalf at the hearing. We will discuss that aspect with you, and provide an estimate from a suitable advocate prior to the hearing.

Please note that whilst the fees mentioned in this document are our standard charges, we are always happy to consider other arrangements where the volume of claims is substantial. Please also note that whether or not your costs can be recovered from the other party will depend upon various aspects, such as the value of the claim, whether or not you have the benefit of any terms and conditions which impose a contractual obligation in relation to costs, and your level of success in the action.

If you wish to proceed with a claim, please note that:

The VAT element of our fee cannot always be reclaimed from your debtor (and will usually depend on whether you are VAT registered).
You might be able to claim interest and compensation, but those amounts might take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the instruction of a bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

It is difficult to predict timescales, since there are many factors which might influence how long a claim might take, but matters might typically take 4 to 12 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgment in default. If a defence is filed, then it is likely to take between 3 and 12 months up to and including a final hearing. The time taken will depend upon the level of complexity, availability of Court time and the approach of your opponent. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Where possible, we will look to recover as much of our costs as we can from your opponent, as well as other sums such as interest.

Entering Judgment

If the debtor does not respond to proceedings, we can ask the Court to enter judgment without the need for a hearing to take place. Judgment can usually be obtained within 3 to 6 weeks of the proceedings being issued (subject to any delays or backlogs at the Court in question). We will charge you a fixed fee to enter the judgment, which will depend on the value of the claim. These fees are in addition to the pre-litigation and issuing proceedings chargers set out above.

Amount of debt	Our fee	Total (including VAT)
Up to £5,000	Between £30.00 and £70.00 plus VAT	Between £36.00 and £84.00
Over £5,000	Between £70.00 and £100.00 plus VAT	Between £84.00 and £120.00

Our fee does not include any settlement negotiations, dealing with any application made by the debtor to set judgment aside, and/or dealing with disputes or additional correspondence from the debtor.

Enforcement costs

Once you have a judgment, you might have to take steps to enforce it if the debtor does not make payment. The costs of doing so will depend on the method of enforcement adopted.

Enforcement method	Our fee	Court fees	Total
Warrant of execution	£250 plus VAT	£83 (no VAT)	£383.00 including VAT
Writ of execution	£225 plus VAT	£71 (no VAT)	£341.00 including VAT
Order to obtain information	£250 plus VAT	£59 Court fee (no VAT) and £119 plus VAT service	£501.80 including VAT
Charging Order	£500 plus VAT	£119 Court fee (no VAT). There will also usually be Land Registry search/registration fees of up to £25	£749.00 including VAT
Attachment of earnings	£500 plus VAT	£119 Court fee	£719.00 including VAT

Please note that the VAT element of our fee might not be recoverable through enforcement proceedings, and not all of our fees will be recoverable from the debtor. You will still have to pay us any amount that is not recoverable from the debtor. The rate of VAT is currently 20%.

Our fees include:

Making enquiries/searches in relation to what assets you debtor owns and what their income is;
Advising you as to viability of enforcement action and which method may result in the best prospect of recovery;
Completing the enforcement application request;
Liaising with HM Land Registry, if so required;
Liaising with the court as necessary;
Liaising with you as to payment made:
Submitting the enforcement application to court and monitoring receipt of the initial order;
Dealing with service of the court order, if so required;
Registration at HM Land Registry, if so required;
Providing you with a copy court order and providing regular updates; and
Receiving payment and sending onto you.

Our fee does not include:

Settlement negotiations;
Dealing with any applications made by the debtor to set aside Judgment and/or to stay enforcement; and
Dealing with disputes, any additional correspondence raised by the debtor and/or contested applications.

How long enforcement takes will be largely dependent upon the method of enforcement you use and/or is suitable to your case. It can take in the region of 2-9 weeks, on average, to conclude the process.

Defended/disputed debts cases

If a debt is or becomes disputed, we will not charge you on the basis of the fixed fees mentioned above (save that they might apply up to the point where the debtor raises an issue with the debt). Thereafter, we will charge you on the basis of the hourly rates of our litigation team, which range from £125.00 plus VAT per hour for a junior member of the team (paralegal or apprentice) to £300.00 plus VAT for our directors.

Other litigation fees

There are different bases on which litigation fees can be charged. The basis which we agree with you will depend on a number of things, which will include (but not be limited to) how your claim is funded, the nature and value of the claim, our view on the merits of the claim and your attitude towards it, and your needs. Whatever fee basis is agreed, we will confirm the position to you at the outset. The different types of fee arrangement are (in principle) the following, but please note that we are not in any matter obliged to offer any or all of the arrangements set out below. The options which we offer to you will be discussed with you, as will (upon request) the reasons why any other fee basis might not be capable of being offered.

(a) A “traditional” arrangement based on the time we spend on the matter, and agreed hourly rates.

(b) A fixed fee or flat fee.

(c) A fee which is conditional on the outcome of the matter. In such cases, a Success Fee will usually be payable, subject to achieving agreed outcomes to the case.

(d) A Damages Based Agreement, where the amount of our fee is based upon the extent to which the matter is successful.

(e) An arrangement which might combine features of more than one of the arrangements mentioned above.

In the event of a client providing us with a high volume of instructions, and at our sole discretion, we can also offer charges based on “blended” hourly rates, where a single rate is charged for all our qualified or professional staff, regardless of their qualifications or seniority.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FEES SET OUT ABOVE ARE AS AT 1^st JANUARY 2024. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH DETAILS OF YOUR PROPOSED INSTRUCTION FOR AN ESTIMATE OR A QUOTE.

Debt recovery and litigation claims are handled by members of our dispute resolution team. The directors in the team are Chris Pugh, Debbie Whiteley and Jennifer Beatty, all of whom is a solicitor experienced in litigation work. The other members of the team are Margherita Bozzarello and Niamh Lancaster.

Employment Tribunal Claim

Your liability to pay fees to us will depend on how your claim is funded. There are the following main options.

Insurance protection

We will enquire whether you have the benefit of insurance cover which might cover your legal fees for bringing or defending Employment Tribunal proceedings. In some circumstances you may have insurance cover that will also cover damages you may have to pay out to the other side (Respondents only). If you have insurance cover, we will work with the insurance company providing them with the information they require to establish whether you can rely upon their insurance product. If cover is confirmed and we can reach an agreement with the insurance company for the level of indemnity and their treatment of our fees, we will carry out the work on your behalf in accordance with the insurance company’s conditions. If the indemnity remains in place for the duration of the proceedings our fees will usually be paid by the insurance company. You may have a liability to the insurance company depending upon the terms of your specific cover (and we can advise you on that when we see the terms of the policy). Where an insurance product does not indemnify our fees, our pricing will be based on the individual lawyer’s hourly rate.

Hourly basis

Our standard hourly rate with effect from 1 January 2024 for Peter Byrne is £300 per hour (exclusive of VAT). By way of general guidance only, estimates of the fees to bring and/or defend claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal are set out below.

Simple case: £6,000 to £12,500 plus VAT

Medium complexity case: £12,500 to £25,000 plus VAT
High complexity case: £25,000+ plus VAT

The rate of VAT is currently 20%.

There are various factors that could make a case more complex, and impact on our fees:

If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim;
Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person;
Making or defending a costs application;
Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties), or whether some or all of a claim has been issued on time;
A high number of witnesses or large amounts of documentation;
If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if the employee is dismissed after “blowing the whistle” on their employer;
Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal;
The hearing lasts several days.

In suitable cases, we can look to agree a fixed fee, or fixed fees for different stages of an action, with you.

In addition to our fees, you may also be required to pay disbursements (see below).

Conditional or Contingency Fee arrangements (“CFA”)

This type of agreement is often described as a “no win no fee” agreement. Rather than pay us on the usual hourly basis, our fees are paid by us taking a percentage of the damages (including any costs awarded) upon a successful outcome. Our usual fee in such cases is 35% inclusive of VAT.

Under a CFA, though, you will usually still be required to fund or pay for disbursements in addition to the 35%.

If you want us to consider a CFA funding arrangement, we will need to carry out an initial assessment of your claim to establish its complexities and your prospects of success. We will offer you the option of a CFA if we are of the opinion that you have a greater than 51% chance of success and that a CFA is appropriate for you and us. We endeavour to carry out our initial assessment of your claim within 2 weeks of receiving all relevant documentation.

The rate of VAT is currently 20%.

Disbursements

Disbursements are fees payable to third parties and will be required in advance of the disbursement being incurred. Typical disbursements that might be incurred in Employment Tribunal proceedings are as follows:

Access to medical records;
Travel to and from Tribunal;
Accommodation whilst representing you at a Tribunal hearing;
Barristers’ fees, unless we undertake the hearing ourselves (this will be assessed on a case by case basis taking into consideration the length of hearing and the financial viability of representing you ourselves at a Tribunal hearing). Barristers’ fees range from £750 to £2500 or more per day, depending on the level of experience and the complexity of the case. VAT is charged in addition (the rate of VAT is currently 20%);
Instructing a pensions actuary for complex pension losses claims.

Key stages in Employment Tribunal proceedings

The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change);
Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
Preparing claim or response;
Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party;
Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process;
Preparing or considering a schedule of loss;
Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing;
Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents;
Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses;
Preparing bundle of documents;
Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements;
Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or witness list;
Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel;

The stages set out above are a general guide only, and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged in accordance with your individual needs.

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved, as well as how busy the specific Employment Tribunal is. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take around 4 to 8 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 6 to 12 months. You must bear in mind though that these are just estimates, and based upon a one day final hearing. We cannot guarantee time scales, since they will depend on many factors outside our control, but we do do all we can to make sure that matters advance promptly. We will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION SET OUT ABOVE IS AS AT 1^st JANUARY 2024 AND IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH DETAILS OF YOUR PROPOSED CLAIM FOR A MORE ACCURATE COSTS ESTIMATE.

Your claim will be handled by Peter Byrne. Peter is the head of our employment team and a solicitor with many years’ experience in employment law.