F-A-I-R BILLING POLICY

Flexible
Adjustable
Interactive
Reasonable

Advantages
The rate is fixed and includes all agreed-upon services. Here are examples of possible flat-rate services:

o Document review, depending on the document's complexity and length.
o Consultation with a follow-up opinion letter, depending on the complexity of the issues.
o Preparing a document (contract, demand letter, cease-and-desist letter, etc.).
o Review of written policies and practices
o Drafting written policies and employee handbooks
o Training for employers and managers

Disadvantages
This arrangement is for limited (unbundled) services only. It means that the attorney will not be able to go outside the narrow scope of services. However, if the client is confident that he or she can do more work on his own, this arrangement will fit you the best.

Advantages
Your attorney will bill by the minute using special software and itemize each task on the billing statement.

Disadvantages
Like in any complex dispute, it is hard to predict the duration of the services, so there is no guarantee of the total amount.

Advantages
Each client's situation is special. We will customize our arrangements to your finances to the extent we can. There may be payment plans, contingency, or financing.

Disadvantages
While we try our best to adjust to your needs, we cannot guarantee that we can take every case because our resources are also limited.

In complex tasks, the prevalent task rate should apply. For example, if a conversation with the opposing counsel was mostly about your matter, but at the end included a scheduling discussion, then the higher rate should apply. However, if the conversation was mostly about filings and scheduling and a little about the dispute itself, then the lower rate should apply.

Costs and expenses (such as court reporter fees, postage, and filing fees) are passed-through without any additional administrative fees.

Any disagreements about billings will be first discussed with the client. If discussions did not bring results, then the attorney will ask to arbitrate or mediate the dispute, according to the Engagement Agreement's arbitration provision.

When two or more attorneys or non-attorneys are involved in a task (for example, two attorneys appearing at a hearing), then only necessary for the task attorneys can bill (attorneys who are expected to present at the hearing). However, a bigger task can be divided by several persons into smaller tasks. For example, a paralegal can come to a hearing to assist with filings, papers, and other tasks.

Where possible, the attorney will minimize fees by combining tasks (for example, reviewing the papers in preparation for the hearing on the ride to the court). However, this principle will not be prioritized over the quality of services. If the multi-tasking affects the quality of services, the attorney will keep the tasks separate.

Where possible, your attorney will assign simpler tasks to non-attorneys, other staff, or a vendor, but balancing this with the efficiency and quality of services. Where filing, copying, investigation, or the like tasks can be done more efficiently by a vendor, those tasks will be assigned to the vendor.

Legal assistants, secretaries, or other staff without legal training cannot bill their time.