HomeFWJ TakeawayLitigation funding - how to fund your claimBlended ratesWhat are the different types of legal costs?

There are a good range of funding options available to Claimants and Defendants in the market today. But it is vital to get clear advice and choose the right option for your particular circumstances. Our brilliant team can help you with this important issue. Avoid mistakes and get it right first time.

Summary

The types of legal cost include the legal fees charged by your solicitor, VAT (unless you are VAT registered) and disbursements. The legal fees charged by your solicitor can be on the basis of the time s/he spends or via a funding agreement, including a “no win no fee” agreement.

  • legal costs are the sums due from a client for his/her solicitor’s fees and are often a necessary cost of any large transaction or dispute.
  • where a dispute exists that is required to be resolved in court proceedings (litigation) then there may be an opportunity to recover some or all of such legal costs from your opponent.

Normal hourly rates

Conventionally, legal costs are paid like any other business service – you agree the scope of work to be done and agree the basis for charging for those services, which normally is on the basis of an agreed hourly rate and the time spent by the solicitor.

  • the higher the rate, the more experienced the solicitor will be and the likely better quality of service you will receive, or alternatively
  • an experienced and more expensive solicitor will provide the answer you desire in a shorter timescale or more in accordance with your commercial needs.

However, time passes quickly and a solicitor is introduced to your problem without any previous knowledge or familiarity with the parties involved, the background to some of these matters and the documentation. It takes some time to read into a matter, fully understand what is going on and then move towards providing an accurate and relevant advice.

This can be costly but there are alternative types of ways (or agreements) in which legal costs can be paid, either directly with your solicitor or via funding sought from a third party.

Different types of funding options – how we can help find the right solution for you

There are a number of arrangements that a client can enter into with his/her solicitor to achieve certainty in relation to their individual needs. Please visit our webpages which deal with the following alternatives:

At Francis Wilks & Jones we are extremely familiar with all types of legal cost funding models and can provide one that is appropriate to your circumstances.


Please call any member of our commercial litigation team for your consultation now. Alternatively e mail us with your enquiry and we will call you back at a time convenient to you.

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Stephen Downie

Stephen Downie

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Maria Koureas-Jones

Maria Koureas-Jones

Partner

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