1.0 CHARGES

We aim to have a flexible fee structure, including deferred payment arrangements, although these should be agreed at instruction stage. In cases of deferred payment we do periodically send reminders to find out if the case is still active. These reminders are not a demand for payment.

2.0 PREPARING A REPORT

Work undertaken by Keith Carter & Associates is calculated at an hourly rate of £125 plus VAT charged in units of 15 minutes.

Please also be aware that the amount of work required for each case varies and our estimate may, on some occasions, need to be revised.

A forensic employment report can take anything from 5 to 20 hours although typically it will seldom exceed 15 hours unless there are special circumstances involving considerably greater research.  A typical report will include:

• In-depth labour market research looking at specific levels of earnings by occupation and geographical area, with possible comparisons over time

• An assessment of the local labour market analysing the type and number of vacancies held at Job Centres and carried in the local press, etc.

• Detailed analysis of the client’s career and earnings

• Interview with the client at our offices, by telephone or at home

• Typically we do not charge travel time (unless this exceeds 6 hours return), this being included in the overall hourly rate

3.0 DISBURSEMENTS

These are charged according to Law Society guidelines:

     Rail fares:  cost of second class travel
               Car:  mileage allowance as recommended by the AA

4.0 CASE CONFERENCES, UPDATES AND ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

Our standard charge of £125 per hour charged in units of 15 minutes, plus VAT is applied.

If a case goes to trial more than six months after the completion of an employment report, it is necessary to update all statistics relating to earnings and employment prospects in the particular geographical area.

5.0 COURT ATTENDANCE

Fees are as follows:

 6.0  CONSULTANCY

Engagement on a consultancy basis is typically charged at a daily rate of £925 plus VAT and expenses.

 7.0  CAREERS COUNSELLING

Careers counselling/rehabilitation assistance which may be requested prior to or following trial, or as an ongoing programme of help is based on our hourly rate of £125.   Information on this and other services can be supplied on request.

8.0  CANCELLATION

Our organisation recognises the need to consider what alternative arrangements can be made in the event of a late cancellation for a Court date.  We note the Supreme Court Costs Office view that it would be reasonable to charge a 25% cancellation fee in the event of 1 to 4 weeks notice of cancellation being given.  We believe that our workload has a greater degree of flexibility than is reflected in the guidance from the Supreme Court Costs Office.  We do not therefore make any claim for cancellation costs when given one week or more notice of cancellation. 

We note the Supreme Court Costs Office view that a charge of less than 50% of fee (although higher percentages would not necessarily be unreasonable) if less than one weeks notice is given.  Short notice of cancellation creates costs and difficulties which vary in each case but need to be reflected in our cancellation policy.  Direct costs can be incurred by the purchase of budget, advanced notice, rail and air tickets, time will be spent in the immediate run up to the trial due to the need to revise the case file, to update information used in the report to be able to provide the Court with current figures regarding earnings and pensions, and the need in some cases to actively update our knowledge of the case by contacting the claimant and carry out research relevant to the current situation which may be some years after preparation of the report.

In light of the nature of our work and our own view of the impact of cancellation, we charge below the Supreme Court Costs Office recommendations based on a percentage of our daily charge-out rate of £950.

• If we are given one week’s notice (at which stage we may have bought advance tickets and may have carried out an initial review of the file) we charge a cancellation fee of 25% of our first day fee rate (£237.50)

• In the immediate run up to trial we will have reviewed the file and carried out further research to ensure that we can provide the Court with current and up to date evidence regarding the claim.  Our cancellation rate with less than 48 hours’ notice is 35% (£332.50)

• With less than 24 hours’ notice, where it becomes more difficult to re-organise work schedules, we charge a cancellation fee of 50% (£475). 

Our cancellation policy provides cancellation fees comfortably within the guidelines produced by the Supreme Court Costs Office recommendations. 

9.0 PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

Accounts are due within 28 days of submitting a report except in cases of deferred payment. (When deferred payment is necessary, this must be agreed in advance).

Any fee outstanding for more than four months will be subject to interest at the base rate for the whole period for which it is outstanding.

Before consideration of any reduction of our fee at taxation, we are sent prior to any hearing, a copy of the relevant Points of Dispute in so far as they relate to our fees.

10.0 GENERAL

All fees are subject to the standard rate of  VAT.

Keith Carter & Associates
JANUARY 2011