AIO Legal Services: Fee Structure
The fees applicable to your matter will be confirmed before substantive work commences. Where appropriate, the Firm will provide either a fixed fee, an hourly rate, a retainer arrangement or another agreed pricing structure that reflects the nature, complexity and anticipated duration of the matter.
1. Basis of Charging
The Firm may charge for legal services using one or more of the following methods:
- Fixed fee.
- Hourly rate.
- Monthly or annual retainer.
- Project-based pricing.
- Subscription-based legal and compliance services.
- Success or stage-based fees where legally permissible and agreed in writing.
The applicable charging method will be confirmed within the engagement documentation before work begins.
2. Hourly Rates
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Firm’s standard hourly rates are as follows:
| Personnel | Hourly Rate (Exclusive of VAT) |
| Director / CILEx Litigator | £175 per hour |
| Consultant Solicitor | £225 per hour |
| External Counsel (where instructed) | Quoted separately |
| Administrative and Compliance Support | £75 per hour |
Time is ordinarily recorded in units of six minutes (0.1 hour).
Chargeable time includes meetings, telephone calls, correspondence, legal research, drafting, negotiations, reviewing documents, court preparation, attendance at hearings, travel where appropriate, file management and all other work reasonably undertaken in connection with your matter.
The Firm reviews its hourly rates periodically. Any increase affecting an ongoing matter will be communicated before the revised rate becomes effective.
3. Fixed Fee Services
Where appropriate, the Firm offers fixed-fee arrangements for clearly defined work.
Examples include:
| Service | Fee (Exclusive of VAT) |
| Initial Legal Consultation ( up to 60 minutes) | £175 |
| Contract Drafting (up to 8pages) | From £300 |
| Legal Opinion | From £500 |
A fixed fee applies only to the agreed scope of work. Additional work requested by the client, or work arising from unforeseen developments, will be charged separately after agreement with the client.
4. Retainer Arrangements
Business clients may engage the Firm under a monthly or annual retainer.
Retainer arrangements may include:
- ongoing legal advice;
- contract reviews;
- regulatory compliance support;
- employment and commercial guidance;
- document drafting;
- scheduled legal meetings; and
- priority response times.
The scope of each retainer, together with any usage limits or exclusions, will be set out in a separate Retainer Agreement.
5. Estimates
Where reasonably possible, the Firm will provide an estimate of anticipated costs before substantive work begins.
An estimate represents the Firm’s professional assessment based upon the information available at the time it is given. It is not a quotation unless expressly stated otherwise.
Should circumstances materially change, the Firm will notify the client promptly and provide an updated estimate where reasonably practicable.
6. Disbursements
Professional fees do not normally include disbursements.
Disbursements may include:
- Court and Tribunal fees.
- Barristers’ fees.
- Expert witness fees.
- Search fees.
- Companies House fees.
- Land Registry fees.
- Translation services.
- Courier charges.
- Travel expenses.
- Process server fees.
- Any other third-party costs reasonably incurred on the client’s behalf.
Where reasonably practicable, significant disbursements will be discussed with the client before they are incurred.
7. VAT
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all fees and chargeable disbursements are exclusive of Value Added Tax.
8. Payment Terms
Invoices are payable immediately upon receipt unless alternative payment terms have been agreed in writing.
The Firm may require:
- payment in advance;
- an initial retainer;
- staged payments; or
- interim invoices for lengthy matters.
Failure to make payment may result in the suspension of work or termination of the retainer, subject always to the Firm’s professional and regulatory obligations.
9. Review of Fees
The Firm seeks to ensure that its fees remain transparent, fair and proportionate.
Fees are reviewed periodically having regard to:
- the complexity of the work;
- the level of professional expertise required;
- changes in operating costs;
- inflation;
- market conditions; and
- regulatory developments.
Any revised fee structure will apply only after reasonable notice has been provided to the client.