Who are we and what do we offer ?
All legal services are provided by BLS (Beaumont Legal Services Limited), a BSB entity. BLS offers all barrister-type services, such as drafting complex documents and advocacy services, but it also has full conduct of litigation rights. So, unusually for a barrister’s service, in an appropriate case we are able to perform every function required to start proceedings off, but also to see them through to a conclusion. Often, an entire civil case can be conducted by us without instructing a solicitor.
Fee models
Save in high value, complex, significant or sensitive cases, fixed fees are offered. The standard hourly rate from 1 January 2022 is £ 450 plus VAT, increased or decreased according to the nature of the case. Please call us on 01753 839321 for a direct fee quotation.
Indicative approximations of fixed fees
Pre-trial/final hearing
- Conferences and Opinions: minimum fee £ 1,000 plus VAT, increasing according to volume of reading, complexity and preparation time
- Statements of Case and complex letters: £ 750 plus VAT to £ 5,000 plus VAT
- Skeleton Arguments and Position Statements: £ 1,000 plus VAT to £ 5,000 plus VAT
- Witness statements: £ 1,000 plus VAT to £ 5,000 plus VAT
- An application for an interim remedy, such as an interlocutory injunction. Drafting and issuing: £ 2,000 plus VAT to £ 5,000 plus VAT
- Interim hearings: minimum fee of £ 1,250 plus VAT to £ 5,000 plus VA
Trials, appeals, arbitrations and mediations.
- Preparation: minimum of £ 1,000 plus VAT per day
- Hearings: Day 1: £ 3,000 plus VAT to £ 10,000 plus VAT; subsequent days: £ 1,000 plus VAT to £ 2,500 plus VAT per day
- Mediations: £ 1,000 plus VAT to £ 3,000 plus VAT per day
Additional costs
- Additional fees may be charged for requests for lengthy amendments to drafted documents or for high volumes of emails.
- Court fees: where we agree to conduct litigation, court fees are payable by the client at the prevailing rates applicable to different phases of proceedings.
- Process Servers: where agents are required for the service of documents, their fees are paid for by the client directly.
- Disbursements, such as hotel costs.
Timescales
Time is not ‘of the essence of’ our provision of services, unless this is agreed and set out in writing. Turnaround of paper work depends on a number of factors, such as urgency, complexity, the volume of reading and other professional commitments.
The average length of a civil action from start to finish is about 18 months. The majority of cases do not go the distance because they settle. The length of proceedings depends on imponderables such as delays in court listing, delays in client funding, the conduct of the opposition and the number and nature of interim applications and hearings.
Payment of fees
No fee is payable in a direct access case until it has been negotiated individually and confirmed in writing, a client care letter has been signed and ID provided. In direct access cases, fees are agreed and paid in advance of work commencing.
Email and banking
Unfortunately, no case is taken on direct access for those who have no access to email and electronic banking. All payments are made by electronic transfer.
Legal Aid
We are unable to obtain legal aid funding.
Other information
The information on this page is not an offer of services. The detailed terms of a retainer are contained in a client care letter issued at the outset of an instruction.
For more information for direct access clients, please visit the Bar’s guidance page
Redress: we are regulated by the Bar Standards Board, have full professional indemnity insurance and a complaints procedure, which is provided on request. Service issues can be referred to the Legal Ombudsman.
All of our fees attract VAT. VAT details are provided to clients in our fee notes and fee receipts.
