The firm's fees represent neither the highest nor lowest cost in the market, but aim for the best value in terms of experience and services provided for the fees clients pay. Many legal services can be provided on either an hourly rate (minimum $425 plus costs in most instances) or on a flat fee basis. The applicable hourly rate may be greater in some circumstances, due to such factors as the complexity of work involved, the time pressures involved, and the dollar value of the relevant assets or transactions. The current hourly rate ranges from a low of $400 per hour for qualified non-profits, $425 minimum for most general matters, $450 minimum for IP and entertainment law matters, to a high of $500 per hour for high-dollar, complex, time sensitive IP or entertainment law matters.
Clients generally prefer the predictability of flat fees, but not all matters lend themselves to such a fee arrangement. Some legal services such as estate planning, incorporation, LLC formation, and trademark registration are handled almost exclusively on a flat fee basis. However, you may want to keep in mind that flat legal fees for tasks such as negotiating a deal or drafting an agreement are typically greater than what would be billed in an hourly rate situation; the flat fee must be set high enough to compensate for the fact that there may be unforeseen circumstances that will take additional time, clients tend to underestimate the amount of work required (in part, because there are often multiple steps and issues that are involved with a particular transaction, that a client may not become aware of until after retaining an attorney), and to compensate for the additional risk the attorney is taking on.
During your brief free initial consultation via email or telephone, we can determine which type of fee structure is best suited to your situation and estimate your total legal costs (for legal, ethical, and business reasons, no legal advice is provided nor legal work commenced during such consultations). In-person initial consultations at which legal advice is provided require a non-refundable pre-payment of one hour's fee and the execution of a retainer agreement. In some circumstances, some of the initial consultation fee may be applicable toward certain flat fees within 30-90 days following the date of the meeting; please inquire for details. No legal advice is provided to non-clients; thus legal advice is not provided during free initial telephone or email consultations; instead, these are aimed at getting to know each other, determining whether a good fit for the legal tasks at hand exists (and if not, if a referral to another attorney or law firm can be made), and discussing timelines and fees. In-office consultations are not scheduled until payment and the signed retainer agreement have been received.
Unless otherwise agreed, payment for flat fee legal services is due in advance of commencement of work. Likewise, hourly rate services usually require an advance retainer fee as a security deposit. My hourly rate may be negotiable in some rare circumstances, typically involving a present commitment to a high volume of legal work (as opposed to the possibility or promise of potential future additional engagements) or non-profit charities; however my fees already represent a discount in comparison to larger law firms offering comparable services. Hourly rates are subject to change without advance notice or any notice on this website. In general, business-related legal fees are tax deductible expenses and personal business expenses are not; consult your tax advisor for specifics on your situation.
Unlike at most law firms, in our discretion there may on occasion be no charge for quick phone calls or brief emailed questions, and six-minute rather than 10-minute or quarter-hour minimum billing increments are used for billable time. Note, however, that not all "quick" questions are answerable without additional information gathering, research, or legal work. A simple question may have a complex answer. There are many "gray areas" of the law, that require research and analysis to arrive at an opinion, solution, or a set of options.
If comparing hourly rates or flat fees among attorneys, it is a good idea to inquire what services and costs the hourly rate quoted encompasses, and what will be billed additionally; you want to be comparing apples to apples and just asking, "how much for an incorporation or trademark?" won't provide you with that information. For example, our full-service, flat-fee LLC formation and incorporation packages include many services not offered at all by, or for which additional charges apply at, other law firms (e.g., EIN number, S corporation election, assistance with state and local tax/regulatory registrations), and our trademark registration is an inclusive flat fee whereas most competitors routinely charge a flat fee to file plus costs and then hourly rates to complete the process. With flat fee matters, there are generally no per-page charges for copying or faxing, nor additional charges for U.S. Mail postage.
All fees quoted on the website or elsewhere are subject to change without notice, may be out of date in certain instances, and are subject to exceptions in any particular instance. For a fee quote customized to your needs, please provide details by phone or email. We reserve the right to refuse new or continuing service to any potential client or client.
Personal and company checks and money orders may be held for clearance. Credit/debit cards are accepted for most matters and fees. Wire/ACH and other electronic payment options are also available. All payments must be in U.S. dollar funds.
"A lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade." - Abraham Lincoln
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price fades." - Unknown
