Fees are set in full transparency and in agreement with the client. They are the subject of an estimate drawn up in accordance with the ethical rules of the legal profession. These criteria include the time spent on the case, the research work, the nature and difficulty of the case, the importance of the interests at stake, the benefits and results obtained for the client, the service provided to the client and the costs incurred.
After the initial free consultation and a preliminary study of the case, Maître Pierre DEBUISSON, lawyer in Toulouse, will propose several billing options to the client, aiming to recommend the most advantageous fee structure.
Once in agreement, Maître Pierre DEBUISSON and the client will sign a fee agreement or engagement letter to specify the terms and conditions for setting the fees. These fees are subject to VAT at a rate of 20%, which may change if the rate changes.
Fees are based on the number of hours devoted to handling the case by the firm.
A fixed amount is paid for the entire procedure. This fee-setting system is particularly suited to cases where the law firm is able to estimate in advance the time required to handle the case.
The success fee comprises a fixed fee and a percentage. The fixed minimum fee is supplemented by an additional fee, which is calculated based on the outcome for the client, i.e. the gain, saving or advantage obtained.
This type of fee arrangement is ideal for clients who require regular advice on various aspects of the law.
The advantage is that it allows clients to consult their lawyer at their discretion, within the limits set by the agreement. Transactions are processed on an annual basis and are assessed and reviewed in light of actual usage.
Some insurance companies offer legal protection. However, the law still requires policyholders to have the freedom to choose their own lawyer. Consequently, you are perfectly entitled to instruct your insurer to use the law firm of your choice to defend you. The insurer will then pay all or part of the firm's fees.
If the insurer does not cover the full cost, Maître Pierre DEBUISSON will draw up a fee agreement with the client indicating the total cost and how it is divided between the insurer and the client.
In accordance with article 266-1 of the French General Tax Code, the costs (or expenses) incurred by the lawyer in carrying out their work (e.g. travel expenses, documentation, correspondence, photocopying, telephone calls) are generally included in the fees payable by the client.
Disbursements are obligatory expenses that the lawyer incurs on behalf of their client as part of their mandate. These are essentially procedural costs (e.g. tax stamps, registration fees), pleading fees, legal publicity costs and court registry costs.
Emoluments are the remuneration for certain services provided by legal professionals that the firm must call upon in certain cases (e.g. bailiffs, notaries and solicitors).
In the event of a dispute over the fees charged by Maître Pierre DEBUISSON, the client may refer the matter to the president of the Toulouse Bar Association by initiating a fee taxation procedure. The client may also first refer the matter to the Ombudsman for the Consumption of the Legal Profession (mediator).
Choose the right defence
Are you looking for a lawyer competent in criminal or personal injury law in Toulouse or Paris? Contact DEBUISSON & Associés.
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