On each matter where you instruct us we will confirm to you in writing:
a) the party or parties for whom we are acting.
b) details of our lawyers who will deal with your matter.
c) the work we are going to do for you.
d) the basis upon which our fees are calculated and approximate time scales.

a) You will provide us with clear, timely, comprehensive and accurate instructions.
b) You will provide us with all relevant documentation in a timely manner.
c) You will let us know promptly of any changes to your name, address or other contact details and if any other information you have given us has changed.
d) You will supply us with your bank details on request so that we can send any monies owing to you.

We will make sure that we have agreed with you the work we will do and any limitations on the scope of that work eg because of the funding arrangements.

Our fee rates are currently £250 per hour
We record our time in 6 minute units for all work done on your behalf. This includes but is not limited to time spent on all letters, phone calls (made or received), emails, documents, research, consideration, travel etc.
These rates are reviewed upwards on 1st January in each year.
At the outset we will give you the best possible information about the likely costs associated with your matter including our fees and VAT, disbursements (ie sums we will pay on your behalf to third parties) and any other payments for which you may be responsible.
We will also give you guidance about the likely time scale to the conclusion of your matter or for the next stage.
We will always advise you if we consider that the likely outcomes do not justify the likely costs and risks associated with your matter.
Our fees are exclusive of VAT and disbursements. All disbursements will be shown separately on your invoice. Please note we do charge an additional fee for minor expenses including bank charges, photocopying, travel and couriers.

Our fee rates are currently £250 per hour.
Unless otherwise agreed, it is our practice to ask you from time to time for a sum on account of our fees and/or disbursements that we may incur on your behalf. The amount paid on account may not reflect the cost of the work that we are about to undertake nor the cost of the work already undertaken. Sums of money paid to us on account can be appropriated by us entirely at our discretion.
We may render “on account bills” for such sums as we consider are appropriate – such bills do not necessarily reflect the work done by us up to the date of the bill.

Our fee rates are currently £250 per hour.
Our bills are payable within 14 days.
If we agree a fixed fee with you that fee will not become payable until we have submitted our invoice to you. If a bill is not paid within one month we can charge you interest at 8% per annum on the balance outstanding (including the VAT). We may issue court proceedings against you to recover the outstanding debt, interest and our costs.
If a bill is not paid within 14 days, we may not continue dealing with your matter until the bill is paid in full and we may not accept further instructions from you on this or any other matter. We will also exercise a lien over any relevant papers or goods until the bill is paid in full.
Where a third party is paying some or all of your legal costs any interest recovered belongs to us unless agreed otherwise.

We will not accept any cash payments. Any money we need to send to you will be sent by BACS (three day payment) bank transfer to your UK bank account.

We will notify you:
a) if any person responsible for your matter changes.
b) if there are any relevant changes in the law.
c) if there are any new circumstances and/or risks of which we are aware or which we consider to be reasonably foreseeable that could affect the outcome of your matter.
d) whether the likely outcomes still justify the likely costs and risks associated with your matter whenever there is a material change in circumstances.
e) if it becomes apparent that the matter is or will become unusually complex or time consuming, or that the scope of your instructions has substantially altered or expanded, such that any fixed fee or fee estimate we have given you is no longer appropriate, and we will provide you with a revised fixed fee or fee estimate as soon as practicable.

You expressly give us authority:
a) to take all steps that we consider reasonable in the conduct of your matter and to incur disbursements (ie fees to third parties for the conduct of your matter, eg for, court fees, expert witness fees, fees to obtain relevant records etc).
b) to publicise your case at our discretion in any form of media provided that such publicity extends only to disclosure of material that would normally be in the public domain and not to matters which are regarded as confidential.
c) to receive all monies payable to you by third parties (by way of cheques drawn in our favour). d) to engage other companies or people to work on our files (eg for typing or photocopying purposes and for functions that support the delivery of our legal activities).

We will update you with progress on your matter regularly and communicate with you in plain language by phone, email or letter as appropriate. If you prefer a particular mode of communication please let us know.
From time to time, when we consider it appropriate, we will review your matter and the information we have given you and we will update the costs information and time estimate at that time.
If at any time you want an update please ask. Usually we will respond to an email or phone call from you within one working day.
If at any time you are not happy with any aspect of our service please contact Joe Barrett.

If we have entered into any referral or fee sharing arrangement with any third party that is relevant to your matter we will give you information about that arrangement.
We will inform you of any financial or other interest that the introducer has in referring you to us. We will also inform you if we are sharing our fees with any other party.

Other than private fees, we will tell you about the other ways of funding that might be available. These may include:
a) Conditional fee agreements
Much litigation is now conducted on a conditional fee basis. If we are able to offer such a scheme to you its terms will be included in a separate agreement. These Terms of Business will apply in so far as they are not varied by the Conditional Fee Agreement.
b) Legal expenses insurance
You may have arranged your own legal expenses insurance cover. The terms of such cover vary depending on the identity of the insurer. Generally we are pleased to act for clients who enjoy the benefit of legal expenses cover. We make every effort to undertake work within the indemnity limits allowed by the insurers from time to time. If we are undertaking work for you that is covered by legal expenses insurance, it is important that you understand that you (not the legal expenses insurers) are and have been our client since we first accepted instructions. Therefore you remain primarily liable for our fees at the hourly rates advised to you regardless of whether or not your legal expenses insurer will indemnify us at those rates or if the indemnity limit is exceeded. If you wish to ensure the indemnity limit is not exceeded we shall be pleased to supply an up to date statement of our fees and if appropriate an estimate of your opponents fees upon request.

Other than private fees, we will tell you about the other ways of funding that might be available. These may include:
a) Conditional fee agreements
Much litigation is now conducted on a conditional fee basis. If we are able to offer such a scheme to you its terms will be included in a separate agreement. These Terms of Business will apply in so far as they are not varied by the Conditional Fee Agreement.
b) Legal expenses insurance
You may have arranged your own legal expenses insurance cover. The terms of such cover vary depending on the identity of the insurer. Generally we are pleased to act for clients who enjoy the benefit of legal expenses cover. We make every effort to undertake work within the indemnity limits allowed by the insurers from time to time. If we are undertaking work for you that is covered by legal expenses insurance, it is important that you understand that you (not the legal expenses insurers) are and have been our client since we first accepted instructions. Therefore you remain primarily liable for our fees at the hourly rates advised to you regardless of whether or not your legal expenses insurer will indemnify us at those rates or if the indemnity limit is exceeded. If you wish to ensure the indemnity limit is not exceeded we shall be pleased to supply an up to date statement of our fees and if appropriate an estimate of your opponents fees upon request.

We will retain files for at least 6 years. We reserve the right to retain electronic data indefinitely.

We are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to account to you for interest earned on client monies where it is fair and reasonable to do so in all the circumstances.
Generally we will pay interest at the rate payable by our bank on instant access deposits.
We will not pay interest to you:
a) where the amount of interest due is £20 or less; or
b) where money is held by us for less than one week.

If we receive any financial benefit as a result of acting for you we will:
a) Pay it to you; or
b) Offset it against your fees; or
c) Retain it with your consent – having explained to you the amount or approximate amount involved.

We are required to hold professional indemnity insurance cover in the sum of £2,000,000. In fact we have cover of £3,000,000. It is an express term of our retainer that our liability to you is limited to £3,000,000. Details of our current cover can be obtained on request.

Barrett Solicitors Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under number 07713651 with its registered office at 56 Bloomsbury Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3QTR, United Kingdom

Barrett Solicitors Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The detailed professional rules that apply to us can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority web site at www.sra.org.uk. Barrett Solicitors Ltd is not authorised by the Financial Services Authority to provide investment advice and, if while we are acting for you advice on investments is needed, we may have to refer you to someone who is authorised to provide the necessary advice.

Delivery of these Terms of Business to you, at any time during the period we are instructed by you, forms part of the contract between us from time to time. Subject to any prior agreement between us these Terms will apply to work undertaken both before and after these Terms have been delivered to you. Any dispute or claim arising from our Terms of Business or any other aspect of the contract between us will be determined by the law of England and Wales and considered exclusively by the English Courts.