Fees & pricing

Clear fees, agreed before we start

Legal bills should never be a surprise. You will know how we charge, roughly what your matter will cost and who will do the work before you sign anything.

  • Free first consultation

    45 minutes with a lawyer, in person or by video, with no obligation.

  • A written estimate first

    You receive a fee estimate in writing before any billable work begins.

  • Itemized monthly bills

    Every entry shows who worked, for how long and on what.

How we bill

Four ways to pay for legal help

We choose the model that fits your matter, not the one that suits us. Most clients pay one way from start to finish.

First consultation

Free

About 45 minutes, any practice area

Who it’s for
Anyone deciding whether they have a case, or whether they need a lawyer at all.
What’s included
  • A lawyer from the right practice reviews your documents
  • Your main options and likely timeline
  • Which billing model fits, with a written estimate to follow

Example

A tenant brings her lease and the landlord’s notice. She leaves knowing her rights, the next deadline and what a reply letter would cost.

Contingency

25–33%

of the amount recovered. No win, no fee.

Who it’s for
People with personal injury claims, and employees with discrimination or unpaid wage claims.
What’s included
  • Nothing to pay upfront; we advance the case costs
  • 25% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, 33% after
  • If we recover nothing, you owe us nothing

Example

A claim settles for $300,000 before filing. Our fee is $75,000, case costs of $6,200 are repaid, and the client receives $218,800.

Fixed fees

from $1,200

One price, agreed in advance

Who it’s for
Well-defined work with a clear end point, for individuals and growing businesses.
Typical prices
  • Will & estate plan from $1,200
  • Company formation from $1,800
  • Prenuptial agreement from $2,500
  • Uncontested divorce from $3,500

Example

Two founders form a Delaware company with a shareholders’ agreement and IP assignments for $2,400, all filing fees included.

Hourly rates

$140–$650

per hour, billed in six-minute units

Who it’s for
Disputes, investigations and complex transactions where the work cannot be predicted in advance.
Rates by role
  • Partner $450–$650
  • Associate $260–$420
  • Paralegal $140–$190

Example

A contested custody case is estimated at $18,000–$24,000. We send an update and ask before going past the upper figure.

At a glance

How we usually bill, by practice area

Your written estimate always takes priority over this table. Where two models are possible, we explain the difference and you choose.

Practice area Usual model Also available Typical starting point
Personal injury Contingency — No upfront fee; 25–33% of recovery
Employment Contingency Hourly, for employers 30% of recovery for employees
Family Fixed fee Hourly, for contested cases From $2,500 for a prenuptial agreement
Criminal defense Fixed fee per stage Hourly, for trials From $3,000 for the pre-trial stage
Business Fixed fee Monthly retainer From $1,800 for a company formation
Real estate Fixed fee Hourly, for disputes From $1,500 for a residential closing
Banking & finance Hourly Capped fee, for transactions Written quote after the first call
Wills & estates Fixed fee Hourly, for probate disputes From $1,200 for a will and estate plan

Questions

Billing questions, answered

Something else on your mind? Ask at your consultation or send us a message.

Not for contingency cases. For fixed-fee work we ask for half the fee when you sign and the rest on completion. For hourly matters we usually hold a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000 in a client trust account; it is applied to your bills and anything unused is returned to you.

Court filing fees, expert witnesses, deposition transcripts, medical records and similar third-party costs. Your written estimate lists the ones we expect, and we ask before spending more than $500 on any single item. In contingency cases we advance these costs and recover them only from a settlement or award.

We tell you as soon as we see it coming, explain why and send a revised estimate. Work beyond the original figure only goes ahead once you have agreed to it in writing. Fixed fees do not change unless the scope of the work changes, and we agree any change with you first.

Yes. Fixed fees over $2,000 can be spread across three monthly payments at no extra cost, and hourly bills can be paid by card, bank transfer or check within 30 days. If money is tight, tell us at the first meeting so we can plan the work around it.

You owe us no fee, and we do not ask you to repay the case costs we advanced. The only exception is a court order to pay the other side’s costs, which is rare in the United States; if that risk applies to your case, we explain it in writing before you agree to go ahead.

Know the cost first

Get a written estimate for your matter

Book a free first consultation. Within two business days of meeting you, we send a written estimate with the billing model, the likely range and what it covers. See our recent case results.

Book a free consultation +1 212 555 0147