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 Case assessment

Disadvantages
This arrangement is for limited (unbundled) services only. It means that the attorney will not be able to go outside of the scope of services. However, if the client does not plan to increase the scope of services, this arrangement will fit the best.

Advantages
Your attorney will bill by the minute using special software. Each task will be itemized on the billing statement and list the applicable rate and the time spent on the task.

Disadvantages
As in any dispute, it is hard to predict the duration of the services, so there is no guarantee of the total amount. However, your attorney will ask for your authorization if she expects a substantial expense or number of hours.

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 incoming 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, or filing fees) are passed-through without any additional administrative fees.

We will discuss any disagreements about billings. If our discussion is unfruitful, we will ask to arbitrate or mediate the fee 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 the 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 policy will not be prioritized over the quality of services. If 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.