It is therefore important to consider the costs of litigation and how to fund these at the very outset. We will give you an overview of the likely overall costs of litigation, before proceedings are started and give you an estimate of costs at every stage.
Costs of litigation consist of solicitors’ fees, disbursements and expenses, such as fees payable to counsel (barrister), court fees, expert fees, travel expenses and photocopying costs. They may also include fees relating to mediation or arbitration. Unless we expressly agree fixed costs with you, estimates are never intended to be fixed and due to the unpredictable nature of litigation, a degree of flexibility is always required.
You need to consider how you will fund your case as it progresses. Whilst as a general rule you can expect to recover a proportion of your legal costs, if you successfully bring or defend a claim, you will usually only make this recovery at the end of the litigation process.
It also important to bear in mind, that you are likely to be ordered to pay your opponent’s fees, if your claim or defence is unsuccessful. It may be possible to take out after the event insurance, which will cover payment of the disbursements and which protects you against the risk of having to pay your opponent’s costs, in the event that your case is unsuccessful.
Legal Expenses Insurance |
| You should always check your existing property, car or business insurance policies to ascertain if you have legal expenses cover in place, which may cover your dispute.
If you have legal expenses cover, then it is important that you contact your insurer to provide details of your claim, so that they are able to tell you if your dispute is covered. We would be happy to guide you through this process. Your insurer is likely to have a panel of preferred firms, but that does not mean that we cannot act for you. By law you are entitled to choose your own solicitor. If you would like us to act for your, then we are happy to contact your insurer on your behalf to discuss this. |
If you don’t have existing legal expenses insurance, then in addition to a standard retainer (under which you will be asked to pay our fees and the disbursements on the production of monthly invoices), various funding options may be available, depending on the nature, strength and value of your case.
Risk Sharing Agreements |
Depending on the nature, strength and value of your case, we may be willing to share the risk of litigation with you and act for you under a Conditional Fee or a Damages Based Agreement. Under those types agreements we will be rewarded for sharing the litigation risk by either receiving a success fee or taking a percentage share of your damages.
Conditional Fee Agreements (“CFA”)When entering into a CFA, we will record the time we spend dealing with your case at our standard hourly rates (the “standard fees”), but will agree that payment of (part of) the standard fees is conditional upon you “winning” your case (as defined by the CFA). If you win, then you will also be asked to pay a success fee. There are two types of CFA:
The success fee is a percentage uplift on our standard fees and our reward for sharing the risk of the litigation with you. The level of the success fee will depend on the nature and strength of your claim/defence. We will provide a full explanation to you about the level of the success fee prior to entering into the CFA. If you win, then you can normally expect to recover a substantial part of the standard fees from your opponent. However, your liability to pay the standard fees, is not connected to the costs which you may or may not recover from your opponent. The success fee is not recoverable from your opponent. It is also important to bear in mind that that a CFA only deals with payment of our fees (although in certain circumstances, counsel may also be prepared to act on the basis of a CFA). With most CFAs you will remain liable to pay the disbursements. You are also at risk of having to pay your opponent’s costs, if you case is unsuccessful. It may be possible to cover these costs by purchasing after the event insurance. Damages Based Agreements (DBA”)When entering into a DBA, we agree that payment of our fees is contingent upon your claim being successful (as defined by the DBA); and upon you receiving a payment of damages, which may include the transfer of an asset to you. We will be entitled to charge a DBA fee of up to 50% of your damages, which will cover payment of our fees, counsel’s fees and VAT. All other disbursements and expenses, will be payable in addition to the DBA fee. If you are successful, then you are likely to recover part of your costs from your opponent. The cost award will be taken into consideration when determining the DBA fee. We will provide a full explanation to you of how the agreement will work in practice, before entering into a DBA. It is important to bear in mind that that a DBA will only deal with payment of our fees and those of counsel. You will remain liable to pay the other disbursements and expenses. You are also at risk of having to pay your opponent’s costs, if you case is unsuccessful. It may be possible to cover these costs by purchasing after the event insurance.
Pre-agreement costs In order that we are able to properly assess your case and its chances of success, we will need to investigate your claim or defence and in most cases obtain advice from a barrister on the merits of your case. In some cases we will also need expert advice. Unless we agree otherwise, you will be liable to pay for the costs of the investigation and obtaining the advice. |
Litigation Funding |
| Depending on the nature, strength and value of your case, it may be possible to source funding from a litigation funder, who will invest in the litigation for a funding fee, which fee will be payable if the claim is successful, typically a multiple of cash advanced or a percentage of your damages.
You will remain primarily liable for our fees and the disbursements, albeit that the funder will agree to indemnify you for such costs. You will have to discuss with the funder, who bears the risk of having to pay your opponent’s costs, if you claim is unsuccessful and consider whether it may be advisable for you to take out after the event insurance. The funders will require evidence that your claim has a good chance of success and that your opponent will be “good for the money”. We will hand details of your case to the funder, who may get their own advice on the merits of success. Unless we agree otherwise, you will be liable to pay for the cost of investigating your claim. |
PLEASE NOTE: We are not able to act for you on the basis of Legal Aid. If you would like to know if you can get Legal Aid for your claim, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid/
© 2021 Spratt Endicott, Spratt Endicott Solicitors are the trading names of Spratt Endicott Limited, a company registered in England & Wales (company no. 08030343) authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation
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