Frequently asked questions

When we receive your instructions, a partner will be appointed to be the lead lawyer in your case. You will of course be notified in your letter of engagement as to the name of that supervising partner and their contact details. From time to time, the partners may be assisted and supported in the task of progressing your case by our team of able lawyers and administrative staff.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

Our work is charged on the basis of 10 units per hour, with each unit equating to 6 minutes. If a piece of work takes longer than 1 unit (i.e. 10 minutes), it will be charged at the relevant proportion of the appropriate fee earners hourly rate.

All our work is subject to VAT, Aticus Law Solicitors is VAT registered and the current VAT rate is 20%. Routine communications include e-mails out, letters out, telephone calls received and made, preparation and attendance are all charged at the relevant proportion of the hourly rate. Directors (who are senior Solicitors/Partners and are referred to as Directors hereon in) charge between £200 and £300 plus VAT per hour and routine communications are charged proportionally. Associate Solicitors charge between £160 and £240 plus VAT. Assistant Solicitors charge between £140 and £220 plus VAT. Trainees and Paralegals will charge between £90 and £160 plus VAT per hour. Our specific charges will be identified to you in your letter of engagement. The Firm’s hourly rates are reviewed on an annual basis in February. You will be informed of the revised rates 1 month prior to the implementation of new rates applicable on your matter.

Quite often, our clients’ preferred approach is to obtain from us a fixed fee for undertaking all of the work. This enables our clients and businesses to forward plan as far as their litigation funding is concerned. We may provide details of that fixed fee either in the first initial consultation or by way of an advertised rate, however the rate will be confirmed in your letter of engagement at the start of your case. If for whatever reason that fixed fee changes, for instance if your case becomes complex or the size of the material served is different to that envisaged, then of course we will immediately notify you as to the change in circumstances and provide you with up to date details of how much your case is expected to cost you.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

Any information held by us remains confidential and is used specifically for updating and enhancing client records. This is to help us progress your case or to assist us in managing our practices statutory regulations and legal/regulatory compliance. Our use of your information or instructions is always in accordance with your instructions, the Data Protection Act 1998 and our duty of confidentiality. During the progression of your case it may be necessary to provide third parties, such as expert witnesses and other professional advisors with your personal data. This will of course be undertaken in accordance with your instructions and you have an overriding right of access, under data protection legislation, to the personal data we hold about you.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

Your first interview or telephone conference will be conducted entirely free of charge, in order for you to discuss your requirements within an informal, no obligation and friendly atmosphere. We have found clients are then best able to make the right informed choices and decisions on their case, without any unnecessary time constraints or the pressure of incurring costly fees.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

It is often difficult to say whether the instruction of Counsel is required in your case, until we take your comprehensive instructions. Rest assured however, that if we identify that an external instruction is required, our comprehensive database of available Counsel provides you with right choice for you and the requirements of your case. Our experience and reputation also ensures that we can often secure not only the best Counsel and third party experts, but at preferential rates to assist in the overall funding and cost of your case.

You will be advised of this at the appropriate stage and we will seek your instructions and provide you with an estimate of Barristers fees and third party experts, prior to any instruction taking place.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

It is often difficult to say whether the instruction of a third party expert is required in your case, until we take your comprehensive instructions. Rest assured though, if we decide that an external instruction is required, our comprehensive database of available experts provides you with right choice for you and the requirements of your case. Our experience and reputation also ensures that we can often secure not only the best third party experts, but at preferential rates to assist in the overall funding and cost of your case. You will be advised of this at the appropriate stage and we will seek your instructions and provide you with an estimate of the experts fees, prior to any instruction taking place.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

After completing the work we will retain all your documents, while there is still money owed to us for fees and/or expenses. We are entitled to exercise a lien over your case papers pending payment of our final bill of costs. Once all fees have been settled, we will then keep your file of papers for a period of 6 years, with the exception of those papers that you ask to be returned to you. We keep files on the understanding that we destroy them 6 years after the date of your closing letter. We will not destroy documents you ask us to deposit in safe custody. Details of our full retention procedure can of course be supplied upon request.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.

We are confident that you will receive an efficient, friendly and value-for-money service from this firm. However, if there is any aspect of service that you are not happy with, for any reason, then we would ask that you write to the directors with your complaint. A director that has not had dealings with your case will revert back to you within 21 days with a full and detailed response to the issues raised and hopefully at this stage we can resolve any complaint or grievance that you may have. In the event that your complaint cannot be resolved within the Firm, you have the right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman.

Details of our full complaints procedure can of course be supplied upon request.

Feel free to call our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, and we’ll discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.