Fees
Policy
OVERVIEW
Hundred Court Chambers Fees Policy
Professional, licensed access and/or lay clients (as appropriate) may contact Chambers (or an individual Barrister for licensed and/or public access cases) to obtain a quotation for legal fees.
To contact Chambers (or an individual Barrister) please call 0151 242 0222 or visit Chambers’ website and click on ‘Contact’ for further details.
Fees& Policies
We adopt a transparent, flexible and commercial approach to fees. Our clerks and senior management team are happy to discuss fees with you up front and tailor them to your requirements. We will discuss and scope a piece of work with you and provide a fee quote at no cost. We ensure our fees are structured appropriately for every case. We operate a number of flexible options regarding fees including:
Hourly rates: We are happy to agree not to work beyond a certain financial limit set by you. This allows you and your client to stay in control of fees.
Fixed fees: We are happy to discuss and agree where appropriate a fixed fee for a piece of work. Some work will lend itself to this arrangement, some will not.
Capped fees: We apply an hourly rate and charge on that basis but up to an agreed cap for that piece of work. Again, some work will lend itself to this arrangement, some will not.
We will consider CFA work in appropriate cases.
Brief Fees
In fast-track personal injury cases, standard rates will apply. In multi-track, small claims and commercial and other privately financed cases, we will agree fees with you after delivery of the brief and prior to the hearing, wherever possible, based upon the following criteria:
1. Seniority/expertise of Counsel instructed.
2. Complexity of the case.
3. Value of the claim.
4. Preparation time.
5. Length of hearing, including conference, on the hearing date.
6. Any expenses such as hotel or travel.
Conditional Fee Agreements
Some Members of Chambers are prepared to undertake cases subject to Conditional Fee Agreements. The terms will be negotiated in each case.
Fees for hearing, conferences and paperwork in Conditional Fee Agreement cases is the same as for civil and commercial work as above.
The APIL-PIBA 9 form can be found on the PIBA website.
Conference Fees
You may wish to agree with us an hourly rate or a fixed fee in advance of a conference. The hourly rate will be based upon criteria 1,2and 3 above. Otherwise, fees for conferences will be assessed after the conference has taken place based upon criteria 1 to 6 above.
Paperwork Fees
You may wish to agree with us an hourly rate for the preparation of papers. The hourly rate will be based upon criteria 1, 2 and 3 above. Otherwise, paperwork fees will be assessed after the work has been completed based upon criteria 1 to 6 above, as applicable.
Fees in Family Cases
Fees charged for hearings, conferences and paperwork in legally funded cases will be in accordance with the Legal Services Commission’s Regulations for Counsel’s fees. Where a non-standard fee publicly funded graduated fee is claimed the basis for the claim will be set out in a case report. We will provide, on request, a likely fee level were a non-standard fee is going to be charged to enable you to obtain appropriate funding from the Legal Services Commission.
The level of fees in privately funded family cases in respect of briefs for hearings, conferences and paperwork will be based on the same criteria as for civil/commercial work above but may also include, where appropriate:
1. Seriousness of the allegations.
2. The importance of the matter to the lay client.
Fees in Criminal Cases
In prosecution cases we will adhere to the fee structure and provisions for arranging fees that are established with the Crown Prosecution Service or other prosecuting agencies. In respect of defence legally funded work, where Counsel is paid separately, we will deal directly with the appropriate authorities. In respect of defence privately funded work and legally funded work where Counsel is not paid separately, wherever possible, we will agree fees with you after delivery of the brief and prior to the hearing, based on the following criteria:
1. Seniority/expertise of Counsel instructed.
2. Complexity of the case.
3. Seriousness of the charge.
4. Preparation times.
5. Length of hearing, including conference, on the day of the hearing.
6. Any expenses such as hotel or travel.
In respect of defence privately funded work and legally aided work where Counsel is not paid separately as to conference fees, you may wish to agree with us the hourly rate, a fixed fee or a capped fee for preparation time or length of conference in advance of the conference. The hourly rate will be based upon criteria 1, 2 and 3 above. Otherwise the fee will be assessed based on criterial 1 to 6 above. Similarly, any paperwork will be charged on the basis as for conferences.
Fees Notes
On completion all briefs, instructions or other materials will be returned to you together with an up-to-date fee note. Our fee notes record the services (hearing/conference/ paperwork) for which the charge is made together with the dates thereof. In addition, where appropriate, the fee note will note the value of the case, importance of the case to the client, preparation time, length of conference, length of hearing and any expenses incurred. If a brief fee was not agreed prior to the hearing, for example, where we are unable to make contact with the instructing Solicitor, a proposed fee will be provided. If the suggested fee is not acceptable to you, we will ask you to make contact with us within 7 days to discuss a mutually acceptable fee.
Payment of Fees
Unless we have agreed otherwise, fees are to be settled within the timescale prescribed within our contractual terms. Chambers adhere to the Bar Council’s Code of Practice in respect of progressing payment of our fees.
In non-legal aid cases, where there is no alternative agreement, Counsel’s fees must be paid or challenged within 3months of the delivery of the fee note at the conclusion of the case, whether or not the Solicitor has been put in funds by the client or has taxed the costs.
Abated Fees for Multi Track and Fast Track Trials
Multi-Track:
The brief fee will be deemed delivered 4 weeks prior to the Trial date.
· If the case settles, is discontinued or vacated/adjourned during that period then the Trial fee will be negotiated subject to the proximity to the Trial date.
Fast-Track:
The brief fee will be deemed delivered 5 working days prior to the Trial date after which the following fees will be applicable:
· If the case settles, is discontinued or vacated/adjourned before 10.00am on the working day before the Trial date: 50% of the agreed Trial fee.
· If the case settles, is discontinued or vacated/adjourned after 10.00am on the working day before the Trial date: 100% of the agreed Trial fee.
Hundred Court Chambers Fees Policy
September 2025
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