Services

We offer a wide range of services, designed to provide you with a solution to your legal costing problem.

Legal Advice

As an Incorporated Legal Practice in New South Wales and with offices in Queensland and the ACT we are able to provide legal advice on all aspects of legal costing law and practice. We charge our fees for this advice at a rate of between $300 and $380 per hour depending on the advice sought and who is providing the advice. We will provide you with a costs agreement in advance of commencing work for you.

 

NEW SOUTH WALES

Bills of Cost

Standard Service: When we prepare a Bill of Costs the fee for our Standard Service is a fixed percentage of profit costs with a guaranteed delivery date between 10 and 20 days depending on the size of your files. Our usual fee for preparation of a Bill is 10% of the profit costs as drawn in the Bill plus GST.

VIP Service: In the event that you require a Bill prepared urgently we have a VIP Service with a 3 - 5 day deadline. Our fee for preparation of a Bill on the VIP basis is 13% of the profit costs as drawn in the Bill plus GST.

Supersaver Service: For non-urgent matters or when cost is an issue our Supersaver Service will ensure your Bill is prepared as soon as possible but we won't guarantee a delivery date. Our fee for a SuperSaver Bill is charged at 8.9% of the profit costs as drawn in the Bill plus GST.

Objections to a Bill of Costs

When you request that Objections are prepared we quote you a fee based on our hourly rate. Our Standard Service is 10 working days. Objections can be prepared on a VIP basis in 3 - 5 working days.

Responses to a Notice of Objection

When you request that Responses to a Notice of Objections are prepared we quote you a fee based on our hourly rate. Our Standard Service is 10 working days. Responses can be prepared on a VIP basis in 3 - 5 working days.

 

QUEENSLAND

Bills of Costs/Costs Statements

We prepare both party/party and solicitor/client Bills of Costs in all jurisdictions, both State and Federal on the one fee basis being at the current Queensland Supreme Court drawing and producing rate. These rates are increased from time to time and the size of the Bill of Costs therefore determines our fee.

Objections to a Bill of Costs

When you request preparation of a a notice of objections, we quote you a fee based on our hourly rate. Under the UCPR, the objections must be provided within 21 days of service of the Bill upon your client.

Further Submissions

Although formal responses to a Notice of Objection are not contemplated in the Queensland legislation, occasionally under the new costs assessment regime, you may be required to make further submissions as invited by the costs assessor. This work is charged by us at our hourly rate.

Short Form Costs Assessments

We undertake both party/party and solicitor/client short-form assessments and charge our fee as a fixed percentage of profit costs for all matters. Where we are requested to conduct dual party/party and solicitor/client assessments, we may reduce our fee for the solicitor/client component.

Court Appointed Costs Assessment

Ruth Chowdhury and Robyn Davis are our Court appointed costs assessors under the UCPR scheme and are available to assess a range of costs disputes. Ruth and Robyn's current rates are as published on the Queensland Court website in the Register of Costs Assessors.

 

Other Services

For your convenience, we offer the following value added services:

  • Free general telephone advice on costs assessment procedures;
  • Free in-house CLE seminars;
  • Access to costs consultants, even after the job is finalised; and
  • On-site service if you need us to attend your premises.

Importantly, we also understand that most of our clients are busy people and want us to proactively manage their files with a minimum of unnecessary involvement from them. To do this, we use our expertise to make pragmatic decisions throughout the assessment of the file to ensure minimum disruption. Even so, we are always available to discuss the assessment of every file, and will never operate outside our instructions.

Our Fees

One of the advantages of our size is that we can offer both high quality expertise and extremely competitive fees. Our fees have been carefully structured to deliver excellent value for money to you and, ultimately, your clients.

For specific information on our fees please call us on 02 9977 9200 in Sydney or 07 3229 7433 in Brisbane.