IFL-AVOCATS Fees

SETTING THE FIRM’S FEES :

Our billing system is essentially based on the time spent by the firm’s lawyers on the case (drafting letters, e-mails, draft deeds, telephone conversations, travel and attendance at meetings, court hearings, study of case files, texts and case law, drafting of notes, expert consultations, and any necessary interventions). All time spent by our staff is recorded in our computer system. It is invoiced to the client at an hourly rate based on the experience and competence of the person carrying out the work.

We keep the client informed of the hourly billing rate of the partner in charge and of any other person involved in the file. These hourly rates are revised annually on January 1, and information is provided on our website and on the first invoice issued after the change.

In certain cases, an additional result fee may be agreed with the customer. If the operation is unsuccessful, our fees will only be calculated on the hourly basis set out above.

Finally, in certain special cases, a lump-sum system can be set up, which will necessarily include a readjustment clause in favor of both parties.

ESTIMATE OF FEES :

Whenever possible, and at the customer’s request, we provide a preliminary estimate of the time and fees required for a given project.
A precise estimate is difficult to provide in advance because of unforeseeable events at the start of a case. We will therefore endeavor to adjust our fee and time forecasts as the case progresses. Estimates are given for guidance only and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, do not constitute quotations.

FEES AND DISBURSEMENTS :

Procedural cases often require us to incur disbursements and costs on behalf of our clients. It is therefore normal for us to ask our clients to pay a provision for disbursements, but also to reimburse us for these costs and disbursements as the case progresses, and when they exceed the amount of the provision requested in cases where these costs are advanced by the firm, but generally speaking.

We reserve the right to stop working on a case for which we have not been covered by the invoices issued.

BILLING :

We may need to ask our customers for retainers at the start of a project and/or as it progresses. In such cases, detailed invoices are sent at the intervals agreed with the customer, indicating the fees due for the work carried out and the credit or debit balancing the retainer(s) paid.

Our invoicing schedule depends on the type of project.

Cases of short duration will normally be invoiced at the time of completion.

A legal or procedural file will be invoiced on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Our invoices include fees and disbursements incurred at the time of invoicing. However, we may not be in possession of all the necessary information at that time. In such cases, fees and expenses not included in the invoice will be included in a subsequent invoice.

VAT :

VAT is applicable to all our invoices for fees and disbursements, except where such fees and disbursements are exempt from VAT. The current applicable VAT rate is 20%.

If the customer is established in a European Union country or abroad, he must provide us in writing with his VAT number to enable us to confirm that VAT will not have to be charged.

PAYMENT OF FEES :

Our invoices are payable on receipt, and the customer authorizes us to set off the amount against any sum we may hold on his behalf in the Carpa account.

In the event of non-payment of an invoice, we reserve the right to interrupt our relations with a customer.

Part of the costs and fees of a case may be charged to a third party. Even if a third party agrees to pay, or is ordered to pay, all or part of the Firm’s fees and expenses, the customer remains liable for payment of all invoices for fees and expenses due to the Firm.

Even in such cases, payment is due immediately.

In contentious cases, the losing party may be ordered to pay all or part of its opponent’s fees and expenses, in addition to its own.

In proceedings, in addition to fees, we are entitled to recover costs from the losing party, failing which to request an advance from our client, who is responsible for recovering them from the opposing party.

In accordance with the provisions of article L441-6 of the French Commercial Code, any delay in payment will result in the application, without prior notice, of a penalty equal to the interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its most recent refinancing operation, plus 10 points.

Any professional customer in arrears is automatically liable to pay us a fixed indemnity of 40 euros for collection costs. Where the collection costs incurred exceed the amount of this fixed indemnity, additional compensation may be requested, subject to justification.

Late payment penalties and the fixed indemnity are payable without the need for a reminder.

YOUR CASE FOLLOW-UP

RESPONSIBILITIES :

Each case is placed under the responsibility of a partner. However, a case may involve several legal specialties.

If this is the case, the work carried out in each of these specialties is carried out under the responsibility of a specialized partner. Any associate may be assigned to work on part of a case.

Occasionally, a trainee may be assigned to carry out certain research or routine aspects of a case, in order to keep our fees as low as possible.

Whatever the case, the handling of the file or the completion of the task is the responsibility of the partner who is your contact.

In the event of non-performance by our firm of any of its obligations, whatever the cause, the resulting loss to the customer may never exceed the maximum sum of 12,000,000 euros, even if it is higher. The customer and our firm may, by express written agreement, increase this compensation ceiling.

QUALITY :

• if the customer has the slightest difficulty with the quality of our service, we ask them to speak immediately to the partner in charge of the file.

INSURANCE :

The lawyers in our firm are insured with ZURICH INSURANCE under the professional liability insurance provided for in article 27 of the law of December 31, 1971, with a maximum cover per claim and per lawyer of €12,000,000.

Any claim under this cover may be made directly to us or to :

AON FRANCE COURTAGE
Défense Ouest
420, rue d’Estienne d’Orves
92700 COLOMBES

DATA PROTECTION LAW:

We need your contact details and store them in our information system.

Of course, you have the right to access and rectify this data.

You can exercise this right by contacting the partner in charge of your file.