Transparency Statement
Guidance for clients
Fees
Professional, licensed access and/or lay clients (as appropriate) may contact the clerks to obtain a quotation, discuss availability and suitability for instructing counsel. The clerks can be reached by telephone on 0113 228 5000 or by email clerks@parklaneplowden.co.uk.
Due to the different areas of law our Barristers work in it is difficult for us to provide a set pricing model. Below we have provided a description of what fee model you could expect depending on the type of work you wish to instruct counsel for.
You will be informed of any additional fees before they are incurred. Most of our work includes VAT.
Areas of Practice
Find out further information about chambers areas of expertise here. https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/expertise
Timescales
Timescales for a case may vary depending on factors such as the availability of counsel, the complexity of the case, the response of the court and the other side’s approach. We will however provide you with a timescale at the beginning of the case. Should anything change the clerks will inform you at the first available opportunity.
Public Access
If you are a member of the public, we would kindly request that you read the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients is found here. This will help you to understand how the Public Access scheme works, and explains how you can use it to instruct a barrister directly.
Employment Tribunal cases (advice and representation for employers and employees)
Providing advice and representation to employees in relation to their bringing of a claim before the Employment Tribunal against their employer; and/or
Providing advice and representation to employers in relation to defending claims before the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee.
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply in relation to actions for ordinary
unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal. Additional price transparency rules do not apply where there are other claims brought in addition to ordinary unfair dismissal and/or wrongful dismissal.
There are many facets to employment disputes, from unfair dismissal to discrimination. The work that is undertake on cases is broad and entirely dependant upon the individual circumstances being alleged. For that reason, it is not practicable for us to provide a total cost of our services covering all eventualities.
Our charges can be based either upon a fixed fee for each stage of the proceedings, an hourly rate, or a combination of the two. This will depend upon your individual circumstances including your, and the other parties, approach to the matter. As a guide our Barristers charge as an hourly rate between £150 and £750 (plus VAT where applicable) and a daily rate between £750 and £10,000 (plus VAT where applicable).
Financial disputes arising out of divorce
By “financial disputes arising out of divorce”, we mean where the parties cannot agree on
financial matters during the process of obtaining, or following, a divorce. For example:
• How assets should be divided;
• Whether to sell the matrimonial home or other assets;
• Maintenance payments; and
• Pension sharing.
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply where the parties have joint assets which are worth less than £300,000.
Financial remedy divorce matters can be relatively straightforward or incredibly complex. Matters could involve minimal assets in one jurisdiction with no children, to multiple assets across several jurisdictions and involving children. The work that is undertaken is broad and is entirely dependent upon the individual circumstances of the divorce. For that reason, it is not practicable for us to provide a total cost of the service covering all eventualities.
Our charges can be based either upon a fixed fee, for certain components, an hourly rate, or a combination of the two depending upon your individual circumstances including your and the other parties’ approach to the matter. It is not possible to provide a fixed price for each component part of a case without knowing the intricacies of each stage of the proceedings. As a guide our Barristers charge an hourly rate ranging between £150 per hour and £750 per hour (plus VAT where applicable) and set fees can be agreed based on the preparation and court time for each specific circumstance.
If your case requires Court hearings, you may be required to pay the Court Issue fee. Details of these can be found here. Or if you require an expert this may incur additional costs.
Inheritance Act advices/Probate
• Providing advice to clients in relation to potential claims under the Inheritance Act
1975; and/or
• Providing advice to clients in relation to defending claims under the Inheritance Act
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply where the deceased person’s estate is worth less than £300,000.
All matters have different scenarios surrounding them, and no estate is exactly the same. Our fees and pricing will reflect the complexity of the deceased’s estate and affairs. An estate comprising of minimal and simple assets, with a small number of beneficiaries, will cost less to advise upon than those estates comprising of multiple complex or business assets, cross jurisdiction, multiple beneficiaries and involving trusts.
The work that is undertaken is broad and is entirely dependent upon the individual circumstances, for that reason it is not practicable for us to provide a total cost of the service covering all eventualities.
We will look to give indicative prices for each stage of matter once we are in receipt of papers and discussed the clients requirements. Depending the experience and seniority of the Barrister instructed, our hourly rates currently range from £125 plus VAT per hour to £750 plus VAT per hour.
Licensing applications in relation to business premises
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply in relation to a) local authority
hearings and appeals to the Magistrates’ Court, and b) licensing applications for:
• The sale or supply of alcohol;
• Change of opening hours; and
• Entertainment purposes.
There are many different licences which businesses may require to operate in their premises, and each business will be unique in terms of its requirements within the licence and rarely be the same set of circumstances. Our fees and pricing will reflect the circumstances surrounding the licence application, for example the complexity of the application, licencing authority approach, any objections.
The work that maybe required to be undertaken is broad and is entirely dependent upon the individual circumstances, for that reason it is not practicable for us to provide a total cost of the service covering all eventualities.
We will look to give indicative prices for each stage of your matter once we are in receipt of papers and discussed the requirements with you. Depending the experience and seniority of the Barrister instructed, our hourly rates currently range from £175 plus VAT per hour to £500 plus VAT per hour.
Personal injury claims
• Providing advice and representation to clients in relation to personal injury claims
(claims for physical injuries, diseases or illnesses, or psychological injuries or
illnesses).
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply in relation to claims which are
allocated to the fast track (generally, claims which are not worth more than £25,000).
Summary only motoring offences (advice and representation for defendants)
Note that additional price transparency rules only apply in relation to summary only
Our barristers may charge fixed fees, which means that the barrister will charge you a set amount of money for the work.
If a barrister charges fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs. For example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if you have a more complex case and/or you need a more experienced barrister. There are also likely to be additional costs in the form of Court fees for making a claim or making applications to the Court. For more information on Court fees, follow this link
Typical hourly rates for these matters are between £125+vat and £750+vat depending on the complexity and seniority of Counsel.
Motoring offences under Part I of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and/or s89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. For example:
• Driving while disqualified;
• Driving without insurance;
• Careless driving;
• Failing to stop or report; and
• Speeding.
Typical hourly rates for these matters are between £125+vat and £750+vat depending on the complexity and seniority of Counsel.
Winding-up petitions
• Providing advice and representation to clients in relation to winding-up companies
which owe them monies; and/or
• Providing advice and representation to companies in relation to defending winding-up petitions issued against them
Our barristers can advise and represent clients looking to apply to wind up a company or defend a winding up application. Each matter is unique and is entirely dependent upon the individual circumstances, for that reason it is not practicable for us to provide a total cost, covering all eventualities, of the service we offer.
We will give indicative prices for each stage of matter, once we are in receipt of papers and discussed the client’s requirements with you. Depending the experience and seniority of the Barrister instructed, our indicative hourly rates currently range from £150+VAT to £750+VAT.
Regulatory Information
Barristers in chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
To ensure that your barrister is properly authorised and regulated you can view the website below:
If you have any concerns about the barrister you wish to instruct you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 or email ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk.
Complaints Information
For further information you can view our complaints policy here: https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/complaints
