Fees

Over the years we have developed, adopted and adapted a specific management, supported by software, that enables us to personalise the accounting of each case.

Our fees quotation is estimated in writing and paid in advance. No any activity will be done without client’s acceptation and payment.

The service of attorneys are calculated on the basis of an hourly rate, but an estimate can be prepared on request and, except in special circumstances, a flat-rate fee payable time by time, by case or by type of case, can be arranged.

For some particularly big or complex matters (i.e. litigation and international arbitration), it is possible to negotiate fees based on a flat-rate as well as on performance.

We take into consideration when providing estimates the following criteria:

(a) the complexity of the matter

(b) the urgency of the matter

(d) the skill, labour, specialised knowledge and responsibility involved

(e) the number and importance of the documents prepared or examined

(f) the amount or value of any transaction involved

(g) the importance of the matter to the client

(h) the time reasonably spent by lawyer on the matter

(i) the place(s) and the circumstances in which the matter is pursued.

In addition to the professional fees charged by FASANO PAULOVICS, there is very likely to be items of outlay which will have to be discharged by you (e.g. Experts Reports, Court fees, Stamp Duty, etc.). We will bill you from time to time for any outlay incurred or to be incurred (and in the case of any outlay which is substantial, if we require, before it is incurred) and any monies paid by you will be refunded on the successful completion of the matter if and to the extent these are recoverable or recovered from the other party or parties. Italian VAT is not payable on all fees to clients domestic VAT holders. Italian Lawyers Pension Contribution Fund at 4 % is payable on all fees.

For litigation here is some billing criteria you need to be aware of:

(a) you are fully responsible, at all times, for our fees and all legal costs

(b) unless otherwise agreed in writing, when we send you a bill of costs, you are then responsible for the payment of that bill of costs

(c) client remain responsible for our fees and legal costs even where you reach directly a settlement with the defendant or any other third party and a term of that settlement is that you will be paid your costs. This is also the case where a defendant or other third party is ordered by a Court to pay your costs

(d) we will seek to recover as much of the fees and legal costs as possible from the defendant or other third parties. When monies are so recovered, if you already paid us, the monies will be refunded to you, less any costs incurred in their recovery. Otherwise, we will set them off against the full amount due to us;

(e) usually, the amount which a defendant or other third party may agree or may be ordered to pay will not generally be sufficient to set off against our entire fees;

(f) insofar as the costs recovered from the other third parties are insufficient to discharge your liability to us, you then remain liable to make up the shortfall.

So what’s the downside ? You should bear in mind that in the event of:

(a) your losing the case

(b) your compromising the case

(d) the Court awarding costs against you; or

(e) your being unable to recover costs due to the financial status of the other party or parties.

Client may be liable to pay the other party or parties costs as well as your own.

Charges in relation to your case accrue as the matter progresses. In many instances it is appropriate to bill on an interim basis rather than furnishing one bill at the conclusion of a matter. The amount billed should be paid at sight.

Fees

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