Avocats Touraut & Associés

Lawyers' fees are paid by the clients in consideration of the work performed, the service and the result that has been obtained.
Code of professional ethics and tactful behaviour lead us to practice reasonable fees.
The person you will be talking to will give you plain information about fees' methods of calculation, either hourly, lump sum, or based upon the value of the litigation or the success that has been obtained.

Fees calculation:

Fees are freely fixed based upon a certain number of criteria, such as:

• time devoted to your file,
• necessary research and study,
• difficulty of the file,
• importance of the interest in case,
• impact on our firm's charges,
• reputation, seniority, experience and specialisation of the lawyer in charge of the file,
• advantages and results obtained in your benefit, as well as your personal situation.

Rates applied in our firm:

As an indication, fees applied in our firm range from EUR 150 to EUR 300 per hour, except for some peculiar files.

Use of lump sum:

Lump sum means that the lawyer in charge of your file fix, in advance, with your consent, the amount of the fees that will be invoiced for the procedure to be handled or for the work that is agreed to be performed.

Lump sum is often used in our firm.

Value Added Tax ('VAT'):

Lawyers' fees is subject to VAT. Hence, one must add to the fees an amount corresponding to the VAT, i.e. currently 19,60%.

Expenses and costs:

The firm may advance expenses and costs in the name and for the account of the client.
The corresponding sums are clearly and separately indicated in the invoices for reimbursement.

Advance funds:

Commonly, as the file is handled, lawyers ask for advance of funds that will be taken into consideration in the final invoices.

Estimation of fees in a file:

For some files, it is possible to determine in advance the fees (see above: use of lump sum)

For other peculiar files, it is difficult to determine in advance the total amount of fees that will be charged. Indeed, the amount will vary as the file and depends upon the evolution of the circumstances and unforeseeable events. As for example, a simple file may become complex because of new arguments, connected procedures, points of law that appear during the handling of the file and that must be solved.

Hence, in the beginning, only fees brackets may be defined.
A fee agreement may also be concluded.

Fee agreement:

A fee agreement may be agreed upon between the lawyer and his/her client. This agreement is concluded and signed by both.

This agreement will definite concretely the chosen fees method of calculation and the amount that will be charged. Such a fee agreement may indicate that a part of the fees will depend upon the results obtained.