Narrative Disbs Cost Disbs Costs
Budget Minimum Minimum Maximum Maximum
Example used relates to a commercial dispute involving two major companies, both using City of London firms, quantum fairly limited, however senior figures in the respective organisations reputations at stake.)  
Hourly rates  
Partner £350.00  
Senior solicitor £285.00 ( 8 years qualified)  
Junior Solicitor £180.00 ( 3years qualified)  
Trainee Solicitor £85.00  
Telephone calls and letters written at an average rate of £25.00 each  
1. Pre-action protocol and up to issuing proceedings  
The client  
Attending meetings with client to discuss case, procedures, liability and quantum, risk analysis, litigation insurance and all pre-action protocol's.  
Partner 2hrs   700.00    
Partner 4hrs       1400.00
Senior Solicitor 5hrs   1425.00    
Senior Solicitor 15hrs       4275.00
Junior Solicitor 5hrs   900.00    
Junior Solicitor 15hrs       2775.00
10 telephone calls   250.00    
25 telephone calls       625.00
10 letters written   250.00    
25 letters written       625.00
The Opposition  
Dealing with all pre-action protocol  
Attending meeting  
Senior Solicitor 2hrs   570.00    
Senior Solicitor 5hrs       1425.00
Junior Solicitor 2hrs   360.00    
Junior Solicitor 5hrs       900.00
10 telephone calls   250.00    
20 telephone calls       500.00
10 letters written   250.00    
20 letters written       500.00
Counsel  
Attending initial conference with Senior Junior Counsel 10years call with client, to discuss merits of case.  
Partner engaged 2hrs   700.00    
Partner engaged 2hrs       700.00
Senior Solicitor 2hrs   570.00    
Senior Solicitor 2hrs       570.00
Senior Solicitor 1hr (Telephone conferences)   285.00   285.00
Counsel's fees  
Conference engaged 6hrs (including 4hrs considering papers) 1500.00   2100.00  
Settling draft pleadings 500.00   650.00  
Telephone conference(s) to discuss draft pleading 250.00   350.00  
Preparation  
General preparation of case; including considering and collating all relevant documentation, facts evidence and law involved.  
Partner engaged 5hrs   1750.00    
Partner engaged 10hrs       3500.00
Senior Solicitor 15hrs   4275.00    
Senior Solicitor 25hrs       7125.00
Trainee Solicitor engaged 5hrs   425.00    
Trainees Solicitor engaged 10rs       850.00
TOTAL PART 1 2250.00 12960.00 3100.00 26055.00
2. COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDING UP TO PREPARATION OF BRIEF  
Issuing proceedings  
The client  
Attending meetings with client to discuss case, procedures, liability and quantum, risk analysis, considering offer's of settlement and discussing and formulate R36 offer  
Partner 5hrs   1750.00    
Partner 10hrs       3500.00
Senior Solicitor 10hrs   2850.00    
Senior Solicitor 25hrs       71250.00
Junior Solicitor 10hrs   1800.00    
Junior Solicitor 25hrs       4500.00
25 telephone calls   625.00    
75 telephone calls       1875.00
25 letters written   625.00    
75 letters written       1875.00
The Opposition  
Attending meeting's attempting to limit areas of dispute, discussing various settlement proposals  
Senior Solicitor 2hrs   570.00    
Senior Solicitor 10hrs       2850.00
Junior Solicitor 2hrs   360.00    
Junior Solicitor 10hrs       1800.00
25 telephone calls   625.00    
75 telephone calls       1875.00
25 letters written   625.00    
75 letters written       1875.00
Counsel  
Attending 3 conference's with Senior Junior Counsel  
Partner engaged 6hrs   2100.00    
Partner engaged 9hrs       3150.00
Senior Solicitor engaged 6hrs   1710.00    
Senior Solicitor engaged 9hrs       2565.00
Senior Solicitor engaged 2hrs (telephone conferences)   570.00   570.00
Counsel's fees  
Conference's 1500.00   3000.00  
Written opinion 750.00   1500.00  
Telephone conferences 500.00   700.00  
Witness (Expert Banker)  
Attending meeting, discussing facts of case and  
preparing instructions to prepare report on procedures in banking industry and merits of case  
Senior Solicitor engaged 5hrs   1425.00    
Senior Solicitor engaged 10hrs       2850.00
5 telephone attendances   100.00   100.00
5 letters written   100.00   100.00
Expert's fee for attending meeting, conference with counsel and production of report 5000.00   50000.00  
Other Witnesses  
Attending say 3 witnesses, discussing case generally with each and taking statements  
Junior Solicitor engaged 5hrs   900.00    
Junior Solicitor engaged 15hrs       2700.00
12 telephone attendances   300.00   300.00
12 letters   300.00   300.00
Court  
Attending Court on summonses/case management conferences  
Junior Solicitor engaged 5hrs   900.00    
Junior Solicitor engaged 15hrs       2700.00
10 telephone attendances   250.00   250.00
10 letters written   250.00   250.00
Counsel's fees 7500.00   15000.00  
Preparation  
General preparation of case; including considering and collating all relevant documentation (including discovery), facts evidence and law involved.  
Partner engaged 5hrs   1750.00    
Partner engaged 10hrs       3500.00
Senior Solicitor 40hrs   11400.00    
Senior Solicitor 75hrs       21375.00
Junior Solicitor engaged 40hrs   7200.00    
Junior Solicitor engaged 75hrs       13500.00
Trainee Solicitor engaged 50hrs   4250.00    
Trainees Solicitor engaged 50hrs       4250.00
TOTAL PART 2 15250.00 43335.00 70200.00 149860.00
3. Delivering brief and preparation for and attending trial  
Delivering brief  
Brief fee based on a 3day trail 15000.00      
2 Refreshers fees 2500.00      
Brief fee based on a 6 day trail     25000.00  
5 Refresher fees     7500.00  
The client  
Attending meetings with client, discussing further offer of settlement, final tactics prior to attending trial  
Partner 2hrs   700.00    
Partner 5hrs       1750.00
Senior Solicitor 5hrs   1425.00    
Senior Solicitor 15hrs       4275.00
15 telephone calls   375.00    
25 telephone calls       625.00
10 letters written   250.00    
30 letters written       750.00
The Opposition  
Attending meeting final attempt to resolve matter  
Senior Solicitor 2hrs   570.00    
Senior Solicitor 5hrs       1425.00
Junior Solicitor 5hrs   900.00    
Junior Solicitor 10hrs       1800.00
10 telephone calls   250.00    
20 telephone calls       500.00
10 letters written   250.00    
20 letters written       500.00
Witness (Expert Banker)  
Attending meeting, prior to trial  
Senior Solicitor engaged 5hrs   570.00    
Senior Solicitor engaged 10hrs       2850.00
5 telephone attendances   125.00    
5 letters written       125.00
Expert's fee for attending meeting and trial 6750.00   6750.00  
Other Witnesses  
Attending say 3 witnesses, prior to trial  
Junior Solicitor engaged 5hrs   900.00    
Junior Solicitor engaged 6hrs       1110.00
12 telephone attendances   300.00   300.00
12 letters   300.00   300.00
Expenses for attending trial 500.00   500.00  
Court  
Attending Trial  
Senior Solicitor 18hrs   5130.00    
Senior Solicitor 36hrs       10260.00
Preparation of Legal Budget   450.00   450.00
TOTAL PART 3 24750.00 12495.00 39750.00 27020.00
SUMMARY  
TOTAL PART 1 2250.00 12960.00 3100.00 26055.00
TOTAL PART 2 15250.00 43335.00 70200.00 149860.00
TOTAL PART 3 24750.00 12495.00 39750.00 27020.00
TOTAL 42250.00 68790.00 113050.00 202935.00
    42250.00   113050.00
Total Costs Minimum   111040.00    
Total Costs Maximum       315985.00
Ancillary financial information  
Third parties costs based on own costs plus an additional 15%   127696.00   363382.75
Total Potential costs liability   238736.00   679367.75
Signed  
JAMES DIAMOND F.A.L.C.D (figures produced after consultation with client, solicitor, expert and counsel's clerk)
DATE  

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