These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. The fees below assume the debt does not exceed £100,000 inclusive of interest and costs.

If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.

Our current hourly rates are:

For senior partners and senior consultants: £285 plus VAT.

For a junior solicitor £160 plus VAT.

Debt Value Court Fee Our Fee
Up to £10,000 Between: £35 and £455 Claims for less than £10,000 do not usually need the involvement of a solicitor. They are allocated to the “small claims” track of the county court.  Proceedings can be issued online using Money Claims On-Line.  You will not usually be able to recover your legal fees for a claim worth less than £10,000 even if you win. If you did wish to instruct us, our fees are likely to be £500 plus VAT plus disbursements for initial advice and a letter before action under the Court Protocol.
£10,001 – £100,000 5% of the value of the claim £1,500 to £4,000 plus VAT plus disbursements for an undisputed debt action. See below.

Broadly speaking we would expect our fees to be between £1,500 and £4,000 (excluding VAT and excluding any disbursements) for the work involved in relation to an undisputed debt action as set out below. Please note however, that if some of the stages are not required, our fees will be reduced.

For an undisputed debt action our fee includes:

  • Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
  • Undertaking appropriate searches
  • Sending a letter before action
  • If the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing a claim
  • Where no Acknowledgment of Service and/ or no Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
  • When Judgement in default is received, write to the other side to request payment
  • If the debt is undisputed negotiations for payment may include an agreed payment schedule
  • If payment is not received within 28 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs. This will include enforcement action.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as a barrister also known as counsel, and Court fees.

If you issue a claim at Court you will be required to pay a Court fee. The Court fees are based on the amount claimed, including interest.

  • For a claim value of up to £5,000 the Court fee will be between £35 to £205
  • For a claim value of between £5,001 to £10,000 the Court fee will be £455
  • For a claim value greater than £10,000 and up to £100,000 the Court fee will be 5% of the value of the claim.

Sometimes we will engage a barrister (Counsel) to advise and as necessary draft the claim on your behalf. Counsel’s fees will depend on the experience of the advocate and the work they are to carry out. We will advise you on likely fees on a case by case basis.

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

  • The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
  • Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
  • The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

How long will it take

Matters usually take 2-8 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Complex and Disputed cases

For complex and defended cases, we will advise on likely costs for each stage of the action.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

We will also advise on strategy for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures to seek to resolve the dispute without the need for Court action, in undisputed or complex cases. See our ADR section for further information.